
Class. 
Book. 



THE 

- 

OF 

NORTH AMERICA; 

CONTAINING 

A Review of the Customs and Manners of the 

original Inhabitants ; the first settlement 

of the British Colonies $ and their 

Rise and Progress, from the 

earliest Period to the 

Time of their 

BECOMING UNITED 

FREE &? INDEPENDENT STATES, 

ooo — 

BY THE ^SVEIIEND Mil. COOPER. 

Tj which is added, 

AN APPENDIX, 

Containing the Constitution of the United States , 
I the Declaration of Independence, and 
Washington's Farewell Address. 

ALBANY: 

PBINTEB FOR SAMTJEX SHAW. 

■ --~9»+- < Wm .1 m 

1818, 



SAMUEL SHAW, 

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I 

Albany, May\, 1818. 



PREFACE. 

X uture generations will view the American 
revolution as the most singular phenomenon which 
ever appeared in the political hemisphere of any 
nation. They will contemplate with astonishment, 
the daring resolution of a few colonists, scattered 
over a large extent of country, and in their very 
mfancy, taking up arms, to resist the encroach- 
ments of tyrannic and oppressive laws, and bid- 
ding defiance to a country, then the acknowledged 
mistress of the ocean, great and renowned in arms, 
«u commerce, and in the arts and sciences. 

To review this subject, and to point out the 
gradual steps by which the American nation final- 
ly obtained her independence, and took her *rank 
\mong the sovereign nations of the world ; to des- 
ribe those terrible scenes of rapine, blood and 
slaughter, which accompanied her struggle for 
freedom, and which proved so fatal to,^ thousands 
of brave men on both sides, and which cost the 
British nation more than two hundred millions of 
dollars, are the principal objects of the author in 
this work. 

Besides a detail of these important events, an 
account is added of the customs and manners of 
the original inhabitants of North America ; the 
causes which first led to the settlement of the 
British American Colonies, and their rise and 
progress is traced and marked out, until they be- 
came a distinct, separate, and confederate nation, 
of Thirteen United and Independent States. 

Facts are related with simplicity and brevity, 
and with a studied attention that nothing shall be 
set down which is not strictly true and correct in 
ail its parts. Opinions are not hazarded, because 



PREFACE. 

they are no part of history, and because it is the 
design of the author, that every reader shall he 
left to his own judgment, unprejudiced and unbi- 
assed by any thing that might fall from his pen. 

Such, in a word, is the work now offered to the 
public — It is in truth but an outline ; but such 
as it is, the American reader, it is humbly pre- 
sumed, will find himself amply compensated for 
the price he shall pay for this volume ; and will 
be enabled, at all times, to refer to the great and 
leading features in the American history, but 
more especially to those of the revolution ; and 
to mark the steps, gradual and difficult, by which 
the American people exchanged the character of 
dependent colonists, for that of a free and sover- 
eign people ; and to contemplate, inspect and re- 
view, the character of those groat and good men 
who took a conspicuous and leading part in the 
revolution ; and to view, as with a single glance, 
the high and noble character displayed by our 
fathers throughout the trying scenes of a sangui- 
nary and bloody seven-years war, emphatically 
styled, the war of their independence. 

The appendix is also peculiarly interesting to 
every citizen. The Constitution of our Country, 
the sacred palladium of our liberties, shoidd be 
in every family. The Declaration of Independ- 
ence is the text-book of liberty ; and the Farewell 
Address of General Washington, is an invaluable 
legacy from the Father of his Country to the 
American People. 



\ 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I. 

DESCRIPTION of the perfons, manners and cus- 
toms of the original inhabitants of North Ameri- 
ca* Their drefs, education and employ- 
ments. Their hofpitality and refentments.™ 

Liberty the darling paffion of the original na- 
tives. Feafts, on what oecafions appointed, 

—Method of atoning for murder.— —Mourns 
ing for their dead. — —The feafl of fouls. ■ ■ 
Method of preparing for war,— — Miferable 
■ftatfi of their prifoncrs. . •• . - Page 13. 



CHAPTER IE 5 

Account of the fitft fcttlersof North America.— 

Settlement at New Plymouth. -The Puritans 

purchafe and fettle the Maffachufeets Bay.— - 

Conne&icm and New-Haven colonies fettled. 
— Providence and Rhode-Iflan J.New-Ha 
A a 



VI CONTENTS. 



fhire and the Maine, New- York, New-Jerfey, 
Virginia, Maryland, Carolina, Pennfylvania, 
Delaware and Georgia. - - - Page 32. 



CHAPTER III. 

Expedition againfl; Louifburgh. — General Brad- 
dock defeated. — Maflachufetts afiembly declare 
againfl: parliamentary taxes, the (lamp aft. — . 
Riots at Bofton on account of that ad. — The 
{lamp aft repealed.— Mr. Charles To wnfend's 
bill for taxing the colonies afrefh. — Troops or- 
dered to Bofton. — Soldiers at Bofton fire on the 
inhabitants. — Eaft-India companyempowered to 
export their own Teas — Tea thrown into the 
fea at Bolton. — Meafures purfued relative to the 
Bofton port bill. — Maffachufetts people prepare 
to defend their rights by arms.— Gage fortifies 
the entrance into Bofton. — Proceedings in ths 
Britifh hoofes of Parliament. — Gen. Gage fends 
troops to Salem. — He fends troops to Concord 
ana Lexington, who are defeated.— The rc- 
uraining bills. — Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne 
fail for Bolton. ---»-- Page 4S. 



CONTENTS, 7il 



CHAPTER IV. 



The expedition againft Ticonderoga.— George 
Washington, Efquire, ele£ied commander ia 
chief of the continental forces. The battle at 
Breed's hill, commonly called Bunkers hill. — 
Georgia accedes to the union.— The Thirteen 
United Colonies.-^The Afia man of war fires 
upon New- York. — Colonel Arnold's expedition 
into Canada. — Falmouth deftroyed, and on what 
account. — Colonel Allen, an American officer, 
taken prifoner, and put in irons. — General 
Montgomery appears before Quebec and is kil- 
led in ftorming the city. - - - Page 6$. 



CHAPTER ¥;.; 

General Howe evacuates Boilon. — Norfolk in 
Virginia burnt. — Sir Peter Parker and Earl 
Cornwallis fail for America. — The blockade of 
Quebec continued. — The Americans retreat 
from before it. — A number of Highlanders and 
Col. Campbell taken at Soften. — Declaration of 
American Independence. — Gen. Howe land? 
the royal army on Long Ifiand. - Page 90, 



*ili CONTENTS* 

CHAPTER VI. 

Wretched State of the American armies under 
Wafhington and Gates. — New-York taken by 
the Engliih.— The battle of the White Plains. — 
A body of Heuians defeated at Trenton. — Gen. 
Howe removes his army from Staten Ifland. — 
Gen. Burgoyne proceeds to Crown Poiot. — Ti- 
conderoga and Fort Independence evacuated by 
the Americans.— Defcription of the flag of the 
United States.— Battle at the Brandy^ine. — 
Philadelphia taken by the royal forces. — Ac- 
count of Mifs M'ReaV cruel death by the In- 
dians. — Americans engage the Britifji under 
General Burgoyne. — Diftrefs and calamity of 
the royal army.< — General Burgoyne baffled in all 
bis defigns, and reduced to the lad extremity.— 
He figns the convention. - - Page in. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Count Donop repulfed in the attack upon Red 
Bank.— Mud Ifland reduced by the Eritifh. — 
.Cong-rcfs receive the treaties concluded between 



CONTENTS. i* 

France and the United States.— The Randolph, 
an American frigate, blown up.— Sir Henry 
Clinton fucceeds Gen. Howe in America.— The 
Marquis de la Fayette, with 2500 men* narrow- 
ly efcapes being cut oft by the Britifli forces.— 
.2 treaties between France and the United 
States Ggned.— Lord North's conciliatory prop- 
ofuions.— Mefirs. Franklin, Deane,, and Lee, 
have a public audience at the French court. — 
The Britifli. array evacuates Philadelphia. — 
Skirmifnes between the Britifli and Americans. 
The Britifli arrive at Sandy Hook.— Count d'- 
Eftaing's fleet anchors within the Hock.— Gov, 
Johnftone attempts to corrupt certain member* 
of congrefs. — Dr. Franklin appointed minuter 
at the court of France. - - - Page 132. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The Britifli operations againft Georgia. — The af- 
fairs of the United States in a deplorable condi- 
tion. — Gen. Lincoln fent to South Carolina. — 
Gen. Afhe furprifed and defeated,— Sir Henry 
Clinton takes Stoney Point.— Count d'Eftaing 
f*i]£, from the Welt-Indies for the American 



: CONTENTS. 

coaft—.-The French and Americans repulfed at 
Savannah.— Diftrefs of General Wafhington'a 
army for want of bread.-.~Charlefton taken by 

the Britiih forces Tarleton defeats Colonel 

Buforrl. A French fleet with troops arrive at 

Newport.— Treaty G^ned between Holland snd 

America. Earl Comwallis defeats General 

Gates Majo? Andre taken and executed as a 

fpy. General Arnold takes refuge on board 

the Vulture ilcop of war. - - P.ige 149. 



CHAPTER IX. 

>ir Henry Clinton fends 3000 troops to the Iky 
cf Chefapeake.— -The French and Spnifh fleets 
form a junflion in. the "Weft-Indies. —Mr. Lau- 
rens taken on his uaiTage to Holland.--— Sir To 

feph Yorke leaves the Hague. Lieutenant 

Colonel Tarleton detached after General Mor- 
gan, by whom he is defeated. ---Lord Ccrnwallis 
attacks General Greene, and defeats him.— -Sir 
George Rodney and General Vaughan take 
St. Euftatia, St. Martins, and Scba.- — The 
French treops join the Americans under General 
Wafhingt.pn.--.Sit Samuel Hood and Count de 



CONTENTS. XI 

Grafie engage. — Lord Cornwallis repairs to 
Yotktown and Glouceller«— Is befieged by the 
allied army.— —A capitulation fettled, and Lord 
Cornwallis Surrenders the pods of Yorktown 
and Gloucefter.-* — The Britifh flee: and army, 
deftined for the relief of Lord Cornwallis, ar- 
rive off the Chefapeake after his furrender, and 
learning his fate return to New- York.— Count 
de GrafTe fails for the Weft Indies, Page 1 73. 



CHAPTER X. 

Mr. Laurens difcharged from his confinement In 

the tower of London. Sir George Rodney 

comes up with Count de GrafTe in the Weft- 
Indies.*— They engage. — Count de GrafTe is de- 
feated and taken.- — The necefiity of peace for 
the United States of America.— Savannah evac- 
uated by the Britifh forces.--*- Charleston alfo 
evacuated.-— Provifional articles of peace figned 
between the Britifn and American Commiffion- 
ers.— — The definitive treaty of peace, figned 
between the Englifli, French, Spariifii and 
Americans, - <* - - ~ - Page 187, 



3U2 CONTENTS. 

APPENDIX. 

•<<~<$-®%*-» 

Constitution of the United States. - Page 20 1 
Declaration of Independence. - •> - - 233 
President Washington's Farewell Addrefs. 24* 



THE 

HISTORY 



OT 



NORTH AMERICA. 



CHAPTER L 

BEFORE wc proceed to defewbe what Amer* 
ica is at prefent, or by what means fhe became in- 
dependent of the mother country, it cannot be 
difagreeable to our readers, to be iuformed of the 
perfoHS, cuftoms and manners, of the original in* 
habitants of North America. 

The native American Indians are tall and 
ftraight in their linabs beyond the proportion of 
uioft nations. Their bedies are ftrotig, but more 
fitted to endure ca«ch hardftup, than to continue 
laag at any ftrvile work, which they cannot fup- 
port, Their bodies and heads are fiaiih i their 
S 



14 THE HISTORY OF [CHAP. I. 

features are even and regular, but their countenan- 
ces fierce-, their hair long, black, lank and very 
fxrong, but without beards. The colour of their 
fkin is a redifh brown, which mcft of them admire, 
and take proper siethods to impfove-. 

The Europeans, on their find arrival in Ameri- 
ca, found the Indians quite naked, except thofe 
parts, which it is common for the mod uncivilized^ 
people to conceal. Since that time, tbey have 
generally a coarfe blanket to cover them, which 
they buy item their neighbors. The whole tencr 
of their lives is of a piece: they are hardy, poor 
and fquaiid ; and their education, from their in- 
fancy, rs folely dire&ed to fit their bodies for the 
mode of life they purfue, and to form their minds 
to infti£t and endure the greateft evils. Their on- 
ly occupations are hunting and war, for agricul- 
ture is Left to their women. 

As foon as their hunting feafon is over, which 
they go through with much patience, and in which 
they exert great ingenuity, they pafs the reft of 
their lives in entire indolence. they fleep half 
the day in their huts, and obferve no bounds of de- 
cency i« their eating and drinking. Before the 
Europeans* difcovered them, they had no fpiritcus 



GHAP* 1*3 NORTH AMERICA, 1 5 

liquors; but now> the acquirement of thefc is the 
principal objett of their purfuit. 

The Indians are grave 3 even to fadnefs, in their 
department upon any ferious cccafion ; obfeivant 
of thofe in company, refpe&ful to the old, and of 
a temper ceo! and deliberate. They are neyer in 
hafte to fpeak before they have thought well of the 
matter, and are fure the perfon who fpeke before 
them, has finifhed all he has to fay. They have 
therefore, the greatefi contempt for the vivacity of 
the European?, who interrupt each other, acd fre- 
quently fpeak all together. la their public coun- 
cils and affemblies, every man/peaks in his turn, 
according as his years, his wifdom, or his ferviccs 
to his country, have ranked him. Not 3 word, not 
a whifper $ not a murmur is heard from the reft 
while he fge«ks ;, no indecent condemnation, no 
ill-timed applaufe. The younger clafs attend for 
their inftrucStioo, and: here they learn the hiftory of 
their nation \ here they are inflamed with the fongs 
of thofe who celebrate the warlike actions of their 
aneeftors \ and here they are taught what arc the 
inter-efts of their country, and how to purfue them. 

Though the American Indian is naturally hu- 
mane and hofpiuble 5 yet, to the enemies of his 



l6 THE HISTORY OF [CHAP. I. 

country, or to thofe who have privately offended 
him, he is implacable. He conceals his resent- 
ments, he appears reconciled, till, by fome treach- 
ery or furprize, he has an opportunity of executing 
an horrible revenge. No length of time is fuffi- 
cient to allay his rtfentment, no diftance of place 
great enough to protect the objedl \ he crofles the 
iteepeft mountains, he pierces the mod impervious 
forefts, and traverfes the mod hideous bogs and 
deferts for fome handsedsof miles, bearing the in- 
clemency of the feafons, the fatigue of the expedi* 
tion, the extremes of hunger and thirft, with pa- 
tience and cheerfulnefs, in hopes of furprifing his. 
enemy, on whom he exercifes the moft (hocking 
barbarities. 

The Americans have fcarce any temples; for, 
as they live by hunting, inhabit mean cottages, and 
are given to change their habitation, they are fel- 
dom very religious. Some appear to have little 
ideas of God j others entertain better notions, and 
hold the exiftence of the Supreme Being, eternal 
and uncorruptible, who has power over all. SaN 
isfied with owning this, which is traditionary 
among them, they pay him no fort of worfhip. 

The darling paffion of the Americans i3 liberty, 
md that ia its fulleft extent 5 to liberty the native 



CHAP- I.J NORTH AMERICA. I»7 

Indians facrifice every thing. This is what makes 
a- life of uncertainty and want ftipportable to them, 
and their education is directed in fuch a manner 
as to cheriih this difpofition to the utmoft. They 
are indulged in all manner of liberty 5 they arc 
never upon any account, chaftifed with blows, and 
very rarely even chidden, 

Though forne tribes are found in America with 
a king at their head, yet his power is rather perfua- 
five than coercive, and he is reverenced as a Fath- 
er, more than feared as a monarch. He has no 
guards, no prifons, no officers of juftice. Is feme 
tribes there are a kind of nobility, who, when they 
come to yeass of difcrenon, are entitled to a place 
and vote in the councils ©f the nation. But 
among the Five Nations, or Iroquois, the moll 
celebrated commonwealth of North America, and 
in fonae other nations, there is no other qualifica- 
tion abfeiutely neeeifary for the head naen, but age s 
with ability and experience in their affairs. 

Whenever any affair of confequence is to be 
tranfa&ed they appoint a feaft, of which almoft 
the whole nation partakes. There are foalkr 
feafts on matters of lefs general concern, to which 
liQne are invited but thof§ who are engaged in that 

B2. 



l8 THE HISTORT OF [CHAP, T. 

particular bufinefs. At thcfe feafts it is againft all 
rule to leave any thing ; fo that, if they cannot eat 
all, what remains is thrown into the fire. Thev 
look upon fire as a thing facred, and in all proba- 
bility their feafts were anciently facrifkes. Before 
the entertainment ia ready, the principal perfon be- 
gins a fong, the fubjedt of which is the fabulous 
or real hiftory of their nation, the remarkable 
events which have happened, and whatever ma.ters 
may conduce to their honor or inftruttion. The 
others fing in their turn, they have dances too, with 
which they accompany their fongs, chiefly of a 
martial kind j and nofolcmnity or public bufinefs 
is carried on without fuch fongs aod dances, 

The charge of the internal peace and order is 
iikewiie committed to the fame ccuscil of the cl- 
derr, which regulates whatever regards the exter- 
2ial policy of the date. Their fuits are few and 
quickly decided, having neither property nor art 
enough to render them perplexed or tedious. 

The lofs of any of their people, whether by war 
or a natural death, is lamented by the whole town 
he belongs to. In fuch circumftances no bufinefs 
is taken in hand, however important, nor any re- 
joicings permitted however interefting the occa- 
fion, until all the pious ceremonies due to the dead 



CHAP. l/} NORTH AMERICA. 19 

are performed, which are always difcharged with 
the greateft iolernnity. The dead body is waChed,. 
aaointed and painted, fo as in fome meafure to 
abate the horrors of death. Then ihe women la- 
ment the lofs with the mcft bitter cries, and the 
mo& hideous howlings, intermixed with fongs 5 
which celebrate the great actions of the deceafed, 
and thofe of his anceftors, The men mourn in a 
lefs extravagant manner. The whole village at- 
tends the body to the grave, which is then inter- 
red, habited in the moil fumptuous ornaments: — 
With the body of the deceafed are placed hrs bow 
and arrows, with what he valued moft in his lif<f 3 
and previfions for the long journey he is to take* 
Feafting attends this, as it does every foiemnity. 

No inftances ©f regard to their deceafed friends 
are fo (hiking as what they call the Feaft of the 
Dead, or the Feaft of Souls. The day of this cer- 
emony is appointed in the council of their chiefs,, 
who give orders for every thing that may enable 
them to celebrate it with pomp and magnificence. 
The neighboring people are invited to partake cf 
the feaft, and to be witneffes of the foiemnity. — 
At this time, all who have died iince the laft (oK 
emn feaft of that kind, are taken out of their 
graves j thofe who have btta interred at the great- 



20 THE HISTORY OF [CHAP. I. 

.eft diftance from the villages arc diligently fought 
after, and brought to this great rendezvous of fe- 
pulchral relifts. 

The opening of thefe tombs difplays one of the 
mod ftriking fcenes that on be conceived. This 
humiliating portrait #f human mifery, exhibited in 
fo many images of death, wherein a tboufand va- 
rious (h?>pes of horror are depicted, according to- 
the different ravages that time has made, forms al- 
together a fcene too indelicate to be here defcribed^ 
I know not which ought to affedt us mod, the hor- 
ror of fo ftriking a fight, or the tender picry and 
affe&ion of thofe poor people towards their depart- 
ed friends. 

This iirange fcftival is the meft magnificent and 
folemn of any they have, not only on account of 
the great concourfe of natives and ftrangers, and 
of the ponspoes re-interment they give to the dead, 
whom they drefs in the fipeft Ikins they can get, 
after having expofed them fome time in this pomp, 
but for the games of all kinds which they cele- 
brate upon the occafion, ia the fpirit of thofe which 
the ancient Greeks and Romans celebrated upoa 
fimilar occaiions. In this manner do they endea- 
vor to foothe the calamities of this life, by the hon- 
ors they pay to the dead, 1 hough among thefe 



CHAP, l/J NORTH AMERICA* II 

favage nations this cuftomis impreffed with ftrong 
marks of the ferocity of their nature \ yet an hon- 
or to the dead, a tender feeling. of their abfence* 
and a revival of their memory, are fome of the 
moft excellent means of foftening our rugged na« 
ture into humanity. 

Though the women in America have generally 
the laborious part of economy upon themfdves^ 
yet they are far from being the flaves they appear^ 
and are net at all fubje£i to the great fubordin*tion s , 
in which they are placed ia countries where they 
feem to be more refpe&ed. On the contrary, they 
hold their councils, and have their (hare in all de- 
liberations that concern the (late; nor are they 
found inferior to the part they a&. Polygamy is 
pra&ifed by fome nations, but it is not general.— 
In mod places they content thenafelves with one 
wife \ but a divorce is admitted, and for the fame 
caufes that it was allowed among the jews, Greeks 
and Romans. No nation of the Americans is 
without a regular marriage, in which there are 
many ceremonies. Incontinent before marriage* 
after wedlock the chafiity of their women is re- 
markable. The puniftiment of the aduiterefs, as 
well as that of the adulterer, is in the hands of the 
hufband himfetf, and it is of tea ,feverr, being k- 



22 THE HISTORY OF [CHAP. !• 

Sidled by him who i3 at once the party and the 
judge. Their marriages are not fruitful, fcldom 
producing above two or three children •, and from 
hence we may derive the principal caufe of the 
depopulation of America* 

The manner of their preparing for war and their 
mode cf carrying it on, feem peculiar to them- 
felves. Almoft the fole occupation of the Ameri- 
can Indian is war or fuch an cxercife as qualifies- 
Lira for it. His whole glory confiits in this, 2nd 
no man is at all confidered until he has increaicd 
the (irength of Lis country with a captive, or 
adorned his hat with the fcalp of one of his ene- 
mies. When the ancients refclve upon war, they 
do not always declare what nation it is they are 
determined to attack, that the enemy upon whom 
they really intend to fail, .my be off their guard ;- 
and they Sometimes even let whole years pafs over 
without committing any a£t of heitiiity, that the 
vigilance of all may be unbent by the long contin- 
uance of the watch, and the uncertainty of the 
danger. 

In the mean time, they are not idle at home. — 
The principal captain fummonfca the youths of 
the town to which he belongs, the war kettle is. 
fet on the fire, the war fcngs and dances coav* 



CHAP; I.] KOP.TH AMERICA. . ££ 

mence, the hatchet is fent to the villages and allies 
of the fame nation, and the mod hideous bowlings 
continue, without intcrmiflion, day and night, over 
the whole tra£l of country. The women add their 
cries to thofe of the men, lamenting thofe whom 
they have either loft in war or by natural death* 
and demanding their places to be fupplied by their 
enemies. 

The fury of the nation being thus raifed to the 
greateft height, and all longing to imbrue their 
hands in blood, the war captain prepares the feaft, 
which cofififts cf dog's flefl*. All that partake cf 
this feaft receive little billets, which are (o rna&y 
engagements they take to be faithful to each other, 
and obedient to their commander. None £re for- 
ced to the war, bur, when they have accepted tVis 
billet, they are looked upon as enllfted, and it is 
then death to recede. Ail the warriors in this af- 
fembly have their faces blackened witii charcoal, 
intermixed wiih sfhes and ftre^ks cf vermilion, 
which give them a moft horrid appearance. Their 
hair is dreffird up in an odd manner, with feathers 
of various kinds. 

In this aflensWy, which U preparatory to their 
military expedition? the chief begins the war fong, 
^hich having continued for fome time, he raifes 



24 *HE HISTOkrOF [CHAP. I. 

his voice to the highcft pitch, and turning off fud- 
denly in a fort of prayer, he sddreffes himfelf to 
the God of war, whom they call Arefkoni. " I 
invoke thee, (fays he) to be favorable to my enter- 
prize ! I invoke thy care of me and my family ! I 
invoke ye likcwife, all ye fpirits and demons good 
and evil ! all ye that are in the fkies, or on the 
earth, or under the earth, to pour deftruftion on 
our enemies, and to return me and my companions 
fafely to my country I" All the warriors join him 
In his prayer with (hours and acclamations. The 
captain renews his fong, (hikes his club againft the 
flakes of the cottage, and begins the war dance, 
accompanied with the fhouts of all his compan- 
ions, which continue as long as he dances. 

On the day appointed for their departure they 
take leave of their friends, and change their clothes 
or what moveables they have, in token of friend- 
ship. Their wives and female relations go out be* 
fore them and attend at fome diftance from the 
town. The warriors march out all dreffed in their 
fineft apparel and mod (howy ornaments, regular- 
ly one after another, for they never march in rank* 
Their Chief walks flowly on before them, Gegiag 
the death fong, while the reft prcferve the mcit 
profound flleuce. When they come up to the v;c- 



tHAP. I.] NOItTH AMERICA. gjj 

men, they deliver to them all their finery, put on 
their worft clothes, and then proceed as their com- 
mander directs. 

The Indians feldom engage in a war upon mo- 
tives common to Europe > they have no other end 
but the glory of victory, or the benefit of their 
flaves, which it enables them to add to their na- 
tion, or facrifice to their brutal fuTy \ and it ia very 
feldom, that they take any pains to give their wars 
even the colour of juftice. They fometimes fall 
on one nation and fometimes on another, and fur- 
prize feme of their hunters, whom they fe*Ip and 
bring home as prifoners. Their fenatcrs wink at 
this or rather encourage it, as it tends to keep up 
the martial fpirit of the people, inures them to 
watchfulnefs and hardships, and gives them an ear- 
ly tafte for blood. The qualities of an Indian war 
are vigilance and attention, and to give and avoid 
a furprisej and patience and ftrength to endure 
the intolerable fatigues and hardfhips which al« 
ways attend it. 

They often enter a village, while the ftrefcgh of 
the nation is employed in hunting) and maflacre 
all the helplefs old men> women and children, or 
make prifoners of as many as they can manage, or 

e 



26 'THE HISTORY OF [ciIAP. I. 

have ftrcngth enough to be ufcful to their nation. 
They often cut off froalt parties of men in their 
huntings ; but when they difcover an amiy of their 
enemies, their way is to throw themfelves flat on 
their faces among the withcicd leaves, the colour 
of which their bodies are painted exactly to refem- 
ble. They generally let a part pafs unmolefted, 
and then, tiling a little, they take aim, being ex .cl- 
ient markfmen, and fetting up a tremendous (hour, 
which they call the war-cry, they pour a ftream of 
mufket bullets on the enemy, having long tince 
laid afide the ufe of arrows. The party attacked 
returns the fame cry. Every man in hade retires 
behind a tree, returns the fire of the acverfe par- 
ty, as foon as they ar.ife from the ground to give 
the fecend difcharge. 

Having fought fame time in this manner, the 
party which thinks it has thz advantage ruihes 
out of its cover, with fmall axes in their hands, 
which they dart with great addrefs and dexteiiry. 
They redouble their cry, intimidate their enemies 
with menaces, and encourage each other with a 
boaftful difplay of their own brave actions. Thus 
having come hand to hand, the con t eft is foon de- 
cided, and the conquerors fatiatc their favage fury 
with the moil (hocking iafults and barbarities to 



CHAP* I " NORTH AMERICA. 27 

the de*.d, biting their flefli, tearing their fcalps 
from their heads, and wai 'owing in tb&ir bloodj 
like the ^ild heafts of the foreft. 

The fate cf their prifoners isjndeed miferabie, 
Daring the greater part of their journey home- 
wards they fuller no injury \ but when they arrive 
at the territories of the conquering (late, or at 
tho'e cf their allies, the people from every village 
meet them, and think they (hew their attachment 
to their friends by the barbarous treatment of the 
unhappy vi£lim?, who on their arrival at their def- 
tined Ration, generally bring with them marks of 
the moil cruel and rnercilefs treatments 

The conquerors enter ths town in triumph 5 the 
war captain waifs upon the head men, and in a low 
voice gives them a cireumiUntial account of every 
particular of the expedition, of the damages the 
enemy have fuffcred and his own lofs in it. This 
being done the public orator relates the whole to 
the people. Before they yield to the joy which the 
victory occaflons, they I'dmeni the friends they 
have loir in the purfuit of it. The parties mod 
nearly. concerned are apparently affii&td with a 
deep and real farrow \ but by one of thofc ftrange 
hires of the human mind, fafhioned to any thing 



%% THE HISTORY OF [CHAP, I. 

by cuftom, as if they were difciplined in their 
grief, upon the fignal for rejoicing, in a moment 
the tears are wiped from their eyes, and they rufh 
into an extravagance and phrenzy of joy for their 
viftory. All this time the fate of the prifoners 
remains undecided, until the old men meet and 
determine concerning their diftributien. 

It is u(ual to offcr a Have to each houfc that has 
loft a fiiead, giving the preference according to 
the greatnefs of the lofs. The perfcn who has ta- 
ken the captive attends him to the door of the par- 
ty's cot'age, where he delivers him, and with him 
gives a belt of wampum, to (hew that he has ful- 
filled the purpofe of the expedition, in fupplying 
the lofs of a citizen. They for fome time view 
the prefent that is made them* and according as 
ihey think him or her, for the fex matters not, 
proper or improper for the bufmefs of the family, 
or as tfeey take a capricious liking or difpleafure 
to the countenance of the victim, or in proportion 
to their natural barbarity, or their refentment for 
the*? Icffcs, they decide whether they will receive 
Mm into the family, or fentence him to death. If 
they be received into the family, happy is their lot, 
as they are then accepted into the place of the fa* 
thcr, fon or hufhand that is loft \ and they have na 



CHAP. I.] NORTH AMERICA. 2$ 

other mark of their captivity, but that of not being 
fuffered to return to their own country, to attempt 
which would be certain death. On the contrary, 
if they diflike the captive, they throw away the 
belt with indignation. Then it is no longer in the 
power of any one to fave him, the nation is afTem* 
bled as upon fome ^reat folernnity^ a fcafFoId is ral- 
fed, and the priioner tied to the flake. He in- 
ftantly begins his death fang, and prepares for the 
enfuing fcene of cruelty with mod undaunted cou- 
rage. On the other fide, they prepare to put it to 
the utmoft proof, with every torment that the 
mind of man, ingenious in mifchief ; ; can devife. 

It would be too (hocking to the ear of our youth- 
ful leader to be told what inhuman tortures are 
infiided on him, till at laft, one of the chiefs, out 
of cempaffien, or weary with cruelty, generally 
puts an end to his life with a cleb or a dagger.— 
The body is then put into the kettle, and this bar- 
barous employ Bient is fueceeded by a feaft equal- 
ly inhuman. 

On this occafion, the women, forgetting the fe- 
male nature, and transferring .. the'rofdves into 
fonaething wcrfe than furies, s£t their parts, and 
evcsi outdo the mtn in this fcene of horror. Tte 
C a 



JO THE HISTORY OF [CHAP, I, 

principal perfons of the country fit round the 
ftafce fmoking, and looking on without the leafi: 
chorion. What is moil extraordinary, the fuffcr- 
er hin?feif, in the little intervals of his torments, 
fmckes alfo, appears unconcerned, and converfes 
with his torturers about indifferent matters. In- 
deed, during the whole time of his execution there 
kerns a conteft between him and them, which 
{hall exceed, they in inflidting the mod horrid 
p2ins, or he in enduring them with a firennefs and 
conftancy almcft above human. - Not a groan, not 
a Ggh, not a diftortioo of countenance, efcapes 
him ; he poff-iT^s his mind entirely in the midft of 
his torments; he recounts his own exploits, in- 
forms them what cruelties he had icftifted upon 
their couatrymen, and threatens them with re- 
venue that will attend his death ; and though his 
reproaches exafperate them to a peuedi ftate of 
madnefs, rage and fury, he continues his reproach, 
C3 even of their ignorance in the a£l of tormenting, 
pointing out himfelf more exquifite methods and 
more fenfible parts of the body to be s$ffii£ted. 

We do not dwell upon thefe circumftances of 
cruelty, which fo much degrade human nature, 
sut of choice; but as ail who mention the cuf- 
:6fe cf this people, have very particularly infilled 



CHAP. I.] NORTH A U ERIC A 7 3 f 

upon their behaviour in this refpe£l, and as it 
feems neceffary, in order to give a true idea of 
their character, we do not choofe wholly to omit 
it. It ferves to fhew, in the ftrongeft light, to 
what an inconceivable degree of barbarity the paf- 
fions of men let loofe will carry them. It will- 
point out to us the advantages of a religion that 
teaches a compaflion to our enemies, which is nei- 
ther known nor prattifed in other religions ; and 
it will make us more fenfible, than fome appear to 
be, of the value of commerce, the benefits of a civ- 
ilized life, and the delights derived fro in literature^ 
which, if they have abated the force of feme of the 
natural virtues by the luxuries which attend them, 
have taken out likewife the ftiog of our national 
vice, and foftened the ferocity of the human race 
without enervating their courage. On the other 
hand the confiancy of the fufferers in this trying 
fcene, fhews the wonderful powers of an early in- 
ftitution, and a ferocious third of glory, which 
makes men imitate and exceed what philofophy 
and even religion, do not produce, 

Having thus taken a curfory review of ths cuf- 
toms and manners of the original natives of North 
America, we fball now proceed to give an account^ 
of the fuft fettlement o£ the Britiffi colonies, and j 



J2 THE HISTORY OF [CHAP. II. 

{hew from what fmall beginnings time has raifed 
them to an immenfe republic, under the title of the 
United and Independent States of America. In 
order to accomplifh this matter, we have given a 
general hiflory of the late war, which ended in the 
lofs of thirteen Britifti American colonies. The 
different fieges and battles that took place during 
thot period, we fliall defcribe as copioufiy as cut 
narrow limits will permit us. 



CHAPTER II. 

SEVERAL of the mofl zealous and eminent 
pTOteftants in the reign of Edward VI. oppofed 
the popifli ceremonies znd habits, though other- 
wife united to their brethren in religious tenets. — 
Hundreds of them fled into foreign parts to avoid 
perfections, where they conne&fd themfelves 
with proreftants of other nations, who were equal- 
ly arduous for a reformation. 

Upon the acceflion of Q^een Elizabeth, in 
1558, the refugees returned to England, loaded 



CHAP.ir/j NORTH AMERICA* JJ 

TOith experience and learning, but in the utmofl: 
diftrefs and poverty. Thofe of the clergy wfco 
could comply with the Queen's eftahlifhmenr, 
were quickly preferred \ but the reft, after being 
permitted to preach a while, were fufpended, and 
reduced to tlieir former indigence* 

The clergy and laity,- who wiflied for greater 
ecclefiaftical purity, ftruggled hard for the abolish- 
ment of popifh ceremonies and habits, or at ieaft, 
leaving the ufe of them indifferent in divine fer* . 
vice, by which they obtained nothing but the hon- 
orable nickname of Puritans. Queen Elizabeth 
had enough of the blood of Henry the Vlllth, to 
make her impatient of any oppofition to her will, 
efpecially in matters of religion, in which fhe had 
a high opinion of her own knowledge; and during 
her whole reign, fhe kept down the puritans with 
an uniform and inflexible feverity. The merits 
however, of their fufferings, the affected plainnefs 
of their drefs, the gravity of theit deportment, and 
the ufe of fcripture ]>hrafes on the mod ordinary 
occaGcns, and even their names, which had in 
them fomething ftriking and venerable, as being 
, borrowed from the Old Teftament, gained them 
a general efteern among iober people of ordinary 
undetftandings* 



34 ^HE HISTORY OF [CHAP Hi 

When King James came to the throne, he had 
a fair opportunity of pacifying matters, or, at leatft, 
he might have left them in the condition he found 
thern. On the contrary, he fori. red them to be 
perfecuted, \ ut not deftrayed : they were exafpe- 
rated, arid yet left po ; atod the then tail if- 

try, like choie vt o U I y U ft cui colof i;5, (x;;.c- 
fed their own weak/iefs, ignorance and . 
by an ill-timed feverky. 

In this flare matters rrrrairen, until the 2 r c e f - 
Hon of Charles the Firft, v. he 1 tliej weie far nxrn 
being mended. This prince, endowed with forre 
virtue?, had very few quifitifci. As 

as the puritans thenifelvcs, he could never e: [ 
the licentious part oi the veil in his favdr ; and 
that gravity being turned aglinft the puritan?, 
made him more odious to them. He gave hirrfelf 
up entirely to the church and churchmen, and he 
fiaifhed his ill conduct in this iefpt&j by confer- 
ring the firft: eccleGaftical dignity cf the kingdom, 
and a great fwsy in temporal affair^ upon Doctor 
Laud, who, hardly fit to direct a college ,was in- 
truded with the government of an empire. 

The puritans cofcGdered the m*ft dreary realms, 
and the moil unfrequented regions, where they 



CHAP. Il/j NORTH AMERICA. .g ; 

could enjoy liberty of conscience, as fuperxor to 
the mod fplendid palaces, where they were to be 
governed by Laud. In conftquenee of thefe difaf- 
feetions, a little colony failed from England, and 
eftablifted itfelf at a place called New-Plymouth, 
en the continent of America. This happened in 
162c. 

They were but few in number, they landed ia 
a bad feafon, and were fupplied only fiom their 
private funds. The winter was premature, and 
extremely cold. The country was every where 
covered with wood, and afforded very little for the 
refrefhment of peifons Gckly with fuch a voyage, 
or even for the fuftenanee of an infant people. — 
Nearly half of them perilhcd by the f.urvy, by 
want, and the feverity cf the climate $ but thefe 
who furvived, not difpirited with their loffes^ nor 
with the hardships they were ftill to endure, fup- 
ported by the vigor which was then the character 
cf Englifhmen, and by the fatbfaclioo cf finding 
themfeives cut of the reach of the fpirijuai arm, 
were enabled to procure in this favage country, a 
tolerable livelihood, and by degrees a comfortable 
fubiiilence for tbeoudvss and their fellies. 



6 THE HISTORY OF [CHAP. IIJ 



The people of New-Flymoutb, having cleared 
the way for other fuffercrs to fettle in America, 
with lefs difficulty and danger than what they had 
experienced ; the fame of their plantation fpread- 
ing through the weftern part ef England, and the 
government in church and ftate growing everyday 
more oppreflive, the territory of the Maflachufcus* 
Bay was purchafed of the Plymouth council, in 
1628. and a company foon formed, who confulted 
on fettling a plantation, to which non-conforming 
puritans might emigrate, in order to enjoy their 
own principles in full fecurity. 

In 1630, a large company arrived at Salem, 
cor.Hlling of more than Fifteen hundred perfons, 
from different countits in England. From the 
beginning of the colony, until the emigration 
ctafed, in 1640, through a change of affairs in En- 
gland, there arrived in 298 veffels, about 2i,2co 

"fettleis, f vr-j women and children; er four thou- 

"faiid families, 

They c\d not however, all confine iherafelvss to 
this colony : feveral families removed to Connect* 
icut River, by mutual agreement with their fellow 
emigrants, who remained behind. Plantations 
were formed at Hanford, Windfer and Wetherfc 



CHAP. II.']] NORTH AMERICA* 37 

field. The inhabitants being loon af er fully fa?i& 
fled, that they were out of the Maflachuietts 5 . ^ 
its, and of courfe its jurifdi&ion, entered into a 
combination among them (elves, became « body 
politic, without retraining the freedom of their 
civil government to the mernbeifhip of i-heir 
churches, and proceeded to the choice of qiagif- 
trates and tcpfefentatives. 

Two large (hips arrived at Maffachuietts ; Bay, 
in 1637, with paflengers from London. Grczt 
pains were taken to prevail upon them to regain 
in the colony ; but they hoped, by moving to a 
considerable diftance, to be cut of the reach of a 
genera! governor, with whom the country was then 
threatened. They fent to their friends in Con- 
necticut to purchafe of the natives the lands lying 
between them and Hudfcirs river. They then 
laid the foundation of a flounfliing colony, cf 
which New-Haven was the capital. Coxinei 
and New-Haven continued two diilincl colonies 
for many years. At length the general court of 
Connecticut determined to prefer an address and 
petition to Charles the Second, prof effing thik 
fubjecTiion and loyalty to his msj?fry_, and fol 
fag a royal charter; and John Winthrrp, Efq« 
D 



38 THE HISTORY OF [CHAP. H. 

who had been chofen governor, was appointed to 
negeciate the affair with the king. He fucceeded, 
.and a royal charter was obtained, confthuting the 
two colonics forever one body corporate and pol- 
itic. 

Mr. Roger Williams, a paftor of the church of 
Sclera, being barifhed from Maffachufetts, on ac- 
count of fome religious cifputes, went to the Nar- 
ragarifet country, accompanied with twelve com- 
panions, and had land given him by the Indian Sa- 
chtm Canonicus: of whom he afterwards purcha- 
fed the hrge tra£t, lying between Pawtwcket and 
Fawturai rivers, (the great falis and the little falls, 
as the Indian nsme fignifies) and ftyled it c Prov- 
idence,' from a fenfe of God's merciful providence 
to him In his diflrefs. 

The authority and power of Miantonomo, sno* 
ther Sachem, and his uncle Canonicus, awed sii 
the Indians round to aflift him and his few affoci- 
ates. When the determinations of the Maffachu- 
felts general court, occaConed by what they called 
antlnomian difputes, baniihed many, and induced 
others to Save the colony, the hoads of the psrty 
were entertained in a friendly manner by Mr. Wii- 
:, who aavifed them to leek a fculement c-a 



CHAP. II ■] NORTH AMERICA. ^T 

Rhode-Ifland, in the year 1638, and was very in- 
ftrumcntal in procuring it of the Indian fachems. 

New-Hampfrire and the Maine were fettled 
about the fame time with the Maffachufetts, by 
different proptietors* who had obuined patents, 
zr*d whofe views w-ere to enrich themfelves by the 
filhing. trade at fea and the beaver trade afhore. 

The colony of New- York demands our nest at- 
tention. The Dutch had fettled it, and named it 
the New- Netherlands. — Charles the Second refcl- 
ved upon its conquefl in 1664 > and in March 
granted to his brother the Duke of York, the re- 
gion extending from the weftern banks of the Con- 
refticut to the eaftern fhore of the Ddeware, to- 
gether with Long-Iihnd, conferring on him the 
civil and military powers of government. Colonel 
Nichols was fcnt with four frigates and three hun- 
dred foluiers to efFe£l the buSneft. The Dutch 
governor being unable to make refinance, the 
New. Netherlands fabmitted to the Ei>gilfh crown, 
in September without any other change than of ru- 
lers/ Few of the Dutch removed, and Nichols 
iniiantly entered upon the exercife of his power, 
as Deputy governor, for the Duke of York, the 
proprietary* 



4G 



THE HISTORY OP [CHA?„ II. 



About the fame time, 1664, New-Jerfey, which 
was alo taken from the Dutch, who were consider- 
ed as having no right to any of their fetilernents in 

*fe parts of America, were included in the grant 
of the Di-:e ci York. The Duke difpofed of it 
to Lord &erkeky and Sir George Carteret, who 
beidg fcle proprietors, for the better fettlement of 
v: } agm >n certain conflitutions of govern-- 

rcfcnt, fo well liked, that the eaftern parts were 
fpc eraBly peopled. 

Virginia was the original name cf all the Eng- 
lish North American continental claims, given in 
ho:: or to the Virgin Qj^en Elizabeth. King James 
being applied to> granted letters patent to a body 
of gentlemen, on the 6:h of April, i6c6, with 
papw^rs to divide themfelves into two cliftindl com- 
pmk-s, the one conniting of London adventurers, 
called the firfl, or fouthern colony of Virginia 5 
the fecand or northern colony compofed of mer- 
chant^ belonging to Briftol, Plymouth 2nd Exeter. 
The territory granted to the firit, or fouthern colo- 
ny was generally called Virginia, without any 
difting^ftiing epithet, and retained that name af- 
ter the feeond or northern colony obtained tbt: 
name of New-England in 1624. 



miAf. II.] NORTH AMERICA. 4I- 

We come next to fpeak of Maryland* The 
firft emigration to this part of America confifted 
of two hundred gentlemen of confiderable fortune 
and rank, with their adherents, chiefly Roman 
Catholics, who hoped to enjoy liberty of con- 
ference under a proprietary of their own proft flion. 
They failed from England in November, and land- 
ed in Maryland the beginning of 1633. Govern- 
or Calvert, brother to Lord Baltimore, very wife- 
]y and juftly purchafed, by prefents of various 
goods, the right of the Indians, and with their free 
confent took poiUfiian of their town, which he 
called St. IVlary's. The country was fettled with 
fo much eaie, and fumifhed with fo many conve- 
niences, that emigrants repaired thither in fuch 
numbers as foon. to. render, the colony populous- 
and fiourifhing, , 

Carolina follows Maryland in the order of ex- 
iftenee. A few adventurers emigrated from the 
Maffachufetis, and fettled round Cape Fear, abou£ 
the time of the Reiteration. They conCdercd 
mere occupancy,- wh-h a transfer from the natives, 
without any grant from the king, as a good title 
upon the lands they peffefled. They deemed them* 
fdves entitled to the fame civil privileges as thofe 
of the country from whence they had emigrated 
D 2 



4 2 THE HISTORY OF [CHAP. IT. 

For years they experienced the complicated mife- 
i ics o$ want. They folicited the aid of their coun- 
trymen, and the general court of Maffacbufetts, 
with an attention and humanity which did it the 
greeted honor, ordered an extenfive contribution 
for their relief* 

The final fettlement of the province was effe£Y- 
ed equally through the rapacity of the courtiers of 
Charles the Second, ami his own facility in re- 
warding thole, to whom he was greatly indebted, 
with a liberality that coft him little. The pretence, 
which had beea ufed on former occafiona, of a pi- 
ous -zeal for the propagation of the gofpel among 
the Indians, was facceffirely employed to procure 
a grant of the immenfe region, lying between the 
36th degree of north latititude,, and the river c£ 
- heo, under the 31ft degree. In March, 
3663, this territory was eredied into a province by 
the name Carolina, and conferred on Lord Clar- 
endon, the Duke of Albemarle, Lord Craven, Lord 
keley,-Lcrd Afliley, Sir George Carteret, <Sir 

hn CaHefon, and Sir William Berkeley, as abfo- 
lute lord proprietaries, forever, laving the allegi- 
-; to the crown. 

Pennfylvania and the Delaware counties next 
demand our attention. Mr. William Penn^ one 



CHAP. II.J NORTH AMERICA; 43 

of the joint purchafers of the weftern part of the , 
JerGes, having received the mo& exact information 
cf the country to the weftward of the Deleware, 
while engaged in the adminiftration of the joint 
purchafe, became defirous of acquiring a feparate 
eftate. 

He prefented a petition to Charles the Second 
in June, 1680, dating not only his relationfhip to 
the late admiral, but that he was deprived of a 
debt due from the crown, when the Exchequer 
was fc.ut. He prayed for a grant of lands, lying 
to the northward of Maryland, and weftward of 
the Delaware, and added, that by his inttreft, he 
fnould be able to fettle a province, which might, in 
time, repay his claims, Having a profpeel of fuc- 
cefs, he copied from the charter of Maryland the 
(ketch of a patent, which in November was Said 
before the attorney general for his opinion. 

Penn'had the fame cbjefi in view as Lord Balti- 
more had, the guarding agaiaft the exertions of 

prerogative, which experience had taught both 
were very inconvenient, The attorney general 
declared the claufe of exemption from taxation il- 
legal ; and chief justice North being o£ the fame 
opinion, and obferving its tendency, added the fa- 
vifsg of ike authority of the Englifh parliament j 



e 



44 THE HISTORY OF [ciIAP. II. 

fo that it was ftipulated by the king, for biirfalf 
and his fucceflbrs, that " no cuiiom or other con- 
tribution (hall be laid on the inhabitants or their 
dates, unlcfs by the confent of the proprietary, or 
governor and aficmbly, or by aft of parliament ia 
England." 

The next year, 1681, the patent was grantee, 
in confideration of " the merits of the father, and 
the good purpofes of the fon, in order to extend 
the Erglifli empire, and to promote ufefu! com- 
merce." It was provided by fit claufes, that the 
fovereignfy of the king fliould be prefervrf, and 
that a£U of parliament, concerning trade, naviga- 
tion, and the cuftoms be duly obferved. Penn was 
empowered to affernbie all the freemen, or their 
delegates, in fuch form as he fhall think proper 
for railing money for the ufe of the colony, and 
for making ufeful laws, not contrary to thofe of 
England, or *he rights of the kingdom* A dupli- 
cate of ike a£ts of the aflembiy was to be trans- 
mitted, within five years, to the king in council, 
sad the a£ts might be declared void within fix 
months if not approved. It now remains only to 
give a "concife account of the fettlcxaent of Geor- 
gia, 



tHAP, IT/) tf&RTn AMERICA. 4^ 

Li 1732, a number of gentlemen confidering the 
vaft benefit that might arife from the tract of land 
lying between the Savannah and the river Aitama- 
ha, petitioned the king for a charter, which was 
accordingly granted in June. They meant that 
the country {hould be made a bulwark for the 
fouthern colonies againft the Spaniards, and (hould 
give employment: to numbers of people, who were 
burthenfooie at heme to their friends and parishes. 

Towards the end of Aug aft, Sir Gilbert Heath- 
cote recommended, in the {Ivon^eft terms^ to the 
dire£iors of the bank, the intereft cf the colony. 
His fpeech had the defired effect, and the members 
of the court, after his example contributed largely 
towards the undertaking* as did great numbers of 
the nabilky, gentry, clergy and others \ end thy 
parliament granted 10,000/. By the beginning c£ 
November, about one hundred and fixteen co!g- 
nifls prefented themfelves, mod of them laboring 
people, and were furnifiied with working tools of 
aii kinds* ftores and fmall arms, 

Mr. Oglethorpe, one of the truftees, generoufly 
attended the firft fet of emigrants to Carolina, 
where they arrived in good health in January, 
*733' The Carolinians made them a prefvnt cf 



46 THE HISTORY OF [CHAP. ll. 

one hundred brctcii.)^ cattle, befiUs hogs, and 
twenty barrclb of rice ; and furnifhed thrm with a 
parry of horfe, and with fcout boars, by the help 
of which they reached the Savannah, where Mr. 
Oglethorpe, ten miics np the river, pitched upon 
a fpot for a town, and in February the building of 
the firft houfe commented. 

Mr. Oglethorpe was waited upon by a numerous 
deputation from the Lower Greek nation, with 
whom he concluded a treaty, and loon after ftt 
out for Charlefton on his return to England, bring- 
ing with him feveral chiefs and a war captain. Ee- 
fore the end of March, 1734, more emigrants, to 
the amount of fix hundred, were either fent ever 
by charity, or went at their own expenfe. 

In OSober the Indians embarked fcr their own 
country, having had an allowance, while in Lon- 
don, of twenty pounds a week, of which they fpentt 
little, as they commonly eat and drank at the table 
of perfons of the higheft diftincYion. They eflb- 
barked at Gravefend, in a fhip which carried over 
£ number of Saltzburghers, being Gerrnao proteft- 
ant:, who, with others of their countrymen that 
followed, fettled on the Savannah, a town they 
called Ebenexer, and which, by their habits of in~ 
duftry aadlobiiety foon became conudcrablf. 



CHAP. Il/] NORTH AMERICA, 4*7 

The Georgians made a furprizing prcgrefs in 
clearing their lands, and building their houfes, 
and as an encouragement, the Britifh Parliament 
granted them a fopply of 26,000/. which, with ve~ 
ry great private donations, were expended upon 
(lengthening the fouthera part of Georgia. 

Thus have we given a fuccindi account of the 
firfl: eftabUfhment of the BritiOi colonies in North 
America. By what unhappy means they at laft 
became feparated from the mother country, will be 
clearly down in the fubfequent part of this hiftory. 

Memorable Events recorded in this Chap- 
ter. 

Firfl fettlement made at Virginia, A. D. 1606 
Settlement at New Plymouth, - - 1620 

New-Hampfhire and the Maine fettled, 1628 

Puritans purchafe and fettle Maffcchufets' B. 1628 
Settlement at Maryland, - / l ^^3 

Connecticut and Providence, ~ - — 1635 
"New-Haven fettled, - 1637 

Settlement of Rhode-Ifland, - - 163S 
Carolina fettled, - 3 663 

New- York and New-Jerfey, - * 1664 

Pennfylvania and Delaware counties^ 168 1 

"Georgia felled, *--... 1-33 



48 THE HISTORY OF [CH, III. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE narrow limits prefcribed to us in this epit- 
ome, will not permit us to enter into a copious de- 
tail of all the minute concerns of ihe colonies, 
which may be found in more voluminous works, 
and there read by thofe, who have leifure and in- 
clination to pur f tie fo dry a ftudy. We (hall there- 
fore proceed to defcribe only eveats cf fome con- 
fequenee. 

News being received in the Mafiachufetts of war 
being declared againft France and Spain, the gen- 
eral court, then fitting, made immediate proviaon 
for railing forces for Annapolis in Nova-Scotia. 

Towards the end of the month of April, 1745, 
Commodore Warren arrived from the Weft-Indies, 
with a Hsty gun fhip, and two of forty, lie was 
afterwards joined fay another cf forty, which had 
reached Canfo a fhort time before. The men cf 
war failed immediately to cruif^ before Lcuifburg. 
The forces foon followed, and landed at Chapeau- 
rogue Bay the laft dry of April. The tranfports 
were difcovered from the town early in the ir«orn- 



CH. III.] NORTH AMERICA. 49 

Ing, which gave the inhabitants the fit ft knowl- 
edge of the defign. 

The fccond day after landing, four hundred 
then marched round, behind the hills, to the noith- 
caft harbor, where they got about midnight, and 
fet fire to ail the dwellings and ftorehoufes, till they 
came within a mile of the grand battery. The 
clouds of thick fmcke proceeding from the pitch, 
tar, and other combufiibJes, prevented the gain- 
fon's difcovering the enemy, though they were 
but at a (hort diflance. 

They expe£ted the body of the army upon them, 
and therefore deferted the fort, having thrown 
their powder into a well 5 but the cannon and fhot 
were left, which proved of great fervice to the be- 
fiegers. The army had near two miles to tranfport 
their cannon, mcrtars, &c. through a rnorafs 
which required great labor to sccomplifl}. The 
men were yoked together, and during the night 
made great advances. 

While the forces were bufily employed on fhore, 
the men of war> and other veffels were cruifing off 
the harbor, as oftenas the weather would permit. 
On the 1 3th of May, they captured a French 44 
gun (Hip, having 560 men on board, and ftores ci 
all forts for the g&rnfoh, 
1 



50 THE HISTORY OF [CH. III. 

It was given out that an attack would be made 
by fea with the fhips, on the 18th, while the army 
did the like by land. Whether a general ftorm 
was really intended or not, the French appeared 
to expe£t it, from the preparations making on 
board the men of war, and Teemed not inclined 
to attempt to withftand it. 

On the 15th, a flag of truce was fent to the 
general, deflring a ceflation of hoftiiities, that they 
might confider of articles for a capitulation. Time 
was allowed, but their articles were reje£ted by 
the general and commodore, and others offered, 
which were accepted by the French, and hoftages 
given on both fides. The town was in confe- 
quenee delivered up on the 17th. As this was a 
time when veflfcls were expe&ed from all pans at 
Louifburg, the French flag was kept flying as a 
decoy. Two Eaft-Indiamen, and one fouth fea 
{hip, of the value of 6co,oce/. fterling, were taken 
by the fquadron at the mouth of the harbor, into 
which they failed as uiual, not knowing that the 
place had been taken by the EogHIh. 

The French having been very trouhlcfome ia 
the back fettlements of our colonies, it was con- 
cluded to take effectual methods to drive them 



CH.-IIl/] NORTH AMERICA. <I 

from the Ohio. The reduction of Nhgara, Crown 
Point, and their forts in Nova-Scotia, was alfo re* 
folved on. General Braddock was accordingly 
fent from Ireland to Virginia, with two regiments 
of foot 5 and on his arrival, when joined by the 
reft of the forces de-ftined for that fervice, he found 
himfelf at the head of 2200 men. He had brave- 
ry, but wanted other qualifications to render him 
fit for the fervice to which be was appointed. — 
The feverity oi his difcipline made him unpopu- 
lar among the regulars, and his haughiinefs depri- 
ved him of the eftcem of the Americans. His 
pride difgufied the Indians, and led him to defpife 
the country militia, and to flight the advice of the 
Virginian officers* 

Colonel Wafhington earneilly begged of him 
when the army was marching for Foit Du Quefne, 
to admit cf his going before, and Scouring the 
woods with his rangers, which was contemptuous- 
ly refufed. The general had been cautioned by 
the Duke of Cumberland to guard againfl a fur- 
prize, and yet he pufhed on heedleftly with the 
firft divifion, confifting of 1400, till he fell into 
an ambufcade of 400, chiefly Indians, by whom 
he was defeated and mortally wounded, on the 9th 
of July, 1755. 



52 *H£ HfSTORY OF [CH, in. 

The regulars were put into the greateft panic, 
and Rid in the utnacft ccnfufion j but the militia 

i been ufed to Indian Gghting, and were not fo 
terrified. The general had difdainfully turned 
them into &e rear, where they continued in a body 
unbroken, and ferved under Colonei Wafhingtcr. 
as a rnoil ufeful rear guard, which covered the re- 
treat pi the regulars, *nd prevented thdr being 
cntUzly cut to pieces. 

Previous to this, and agreeable to the views cf 
the Brltifh rniniftry, the M S its sfTembly 

>dy of troops which were fent to Nova- 
>tia, to aiTift Lieutenant-Governor Lawrence ic 
d mng the French from their feveral encroach- 
ed Britfaio that province. 

The expedition againfl Niagara was intruded to 
i. Shirley, but failed through various caufes. 

Sir William, then Colonel Jotmfon, was rp- 

to go againft Crown Point. The delays, 

3 roeft and deficiency of preparation, prevented 

>nies joining their troops till about 

uft. In the ai£aa time the a&ive enemv had 

. . :. forces from France to Canada, march.* 

\vn to meet the provincials, and attack* 

i botj meeting with a repulfe, loft 6co 



OK. Ill .J NORTH AMERICA. $3 

men, befides having their general, Baron Dkflcau, 
wounded and made prifoner. 

The next year the Maffachufctfs raifed a great 
armament to go againft Crown Point 9 , but Lord 
Loudon, on his arrival did not thiak it proper that 
the forces fhoald proceed, owing to a temporary 
mifunderftanding between his Lordfliip arid the 
general court, 

In the year 1 758, happily for the Butifh nation, 
the great Mr. Pitt was placed at the head of the 
rniniftry, when the face of affairs was foon chang- 
ed, the war profecuted with unexampled fuccefsand 
the enemy was ait length driven out -of America. 

Mr. Ifrael Mauduit, the MaiTachufetts agent, in 
3763, gave early notice of the nuni Serial inten» 
lions to tax fhe colonies \ but the general court 
r*ot being called together tiii the latter end of the 
year, inftruftiens to the agent, though foliated by 
him, could not be fent in proper time. 

The next yesr, however^ 2764, the hcufe cf 
Reprefentatives came to lbs following retaliations % 
"■That the tale right of giving and granting the 
money cf the people of the province, was vefted 
in them as their legal reprefentftUYes h and that- 



54 THE HISTORY OF [ch. III. 

the impofmon of duties and taxes by the parlia- 
ment of Great Britain, upon a people who are not 
reprefented in the houfe of Commons is abfolute- 
iy irreconcilable with their rights." — " That no 
man can juftly take the property of another with- 
out his confent ; upon which original principle, the 
fight of representation in the fame body, which 
cxerciies the power of making laws for levying tax- 
es, one cf the main pillars of the Britifh constitu- 
tion, is evidently founded." 

Thefe refoiutions were occafloned by intelli- 
gence of what had b^en done in the Britifh Houfe 
of Commons- It had been there debated in March, 
whether they had a right to tax the Americans, 
ihey not being reprefented, and determined unan- 
imoufiy in the affirmative. Not a fingle perfon 
prefent ventured to controvert the right. 

After various propofitions for taxing the colo- 
nies, Mr. Gienvilie's intended (lamp zQ. was com- 
municated to the American agents. Many of them 
did not oppofe it, half their numbers being place- 
men or dependents on the ministry. Mr. Jofeph 
Sherwood, an honed Quaker, agent for Rhode- 
Mind, refufed his confent to America's being tax- 
ed by 3 Britifh Parliament. Mr. Mauduit, the Maf. 



CMS. III.] NORTH AMERICA. 55 

fachufetts agent, favored the railing of the wanted 
money by a damp- duty, as it would occafion left 
expsnfe of officers, and would include the Weft- 
India iflands. The fcheme, however, was poftpo- 
ned, and the agents authorized to inform the 
American affemblies, that they were at liberty to 
fuggeftany other ways of raifing monks, and that 
Mr, Grenville was ready to receive propofals for 
any other tax, that might be equivalent in its 
produce to the ftamp tax. The colonies feemed 
to confider it as an affront rather than as a complU 
ment. The minifter would not be content with 
any thing fhort o£a fpecific fam, and proper funds 
for the payment of it. Had not the fums been 
anfwerable to his wiflies, he would have rejected 
them, and he would fcarcely have been (atisfied 
with- left than 300,000/. per annum, which was 
judged abfolutely neceffary, to defray the whole 
cxpenfe of the army propofed for the defence of 
America.. 

No fatisfa£tory propofals being made on the 
fide of the- Americans, Mr. Grenville adhered to 
his purpofe of bringing forward the ftamp bill, 
though repeatedly preiTed by fome of bis friends 
to defift— Richard Jackfon, Efq. had been chofea 



5^ THE HISTORY OF [CH. U& 

agent for the Maflachufctts, who, with Mr. Frsnk- 
Jin, and other?, lately come from Philadelphia, 
waited on Mr. Grenville, in February, 1765, to 
remonflrate agaifcft the (tamp biH. and to propofe, 
that in cafe any tax muft be laid upon America, 
the fcvcral colonies might be permitted to lay the 
tax themfelvcs. Mr. Granville, however, adhered 
to bis own oprnions, and faid he had pleoged his 
word for offering the (lamp bill to the houfe, arid 
that the houfe would hear their ohje&tonfc 

The bill was accordingly brought in, end in 
March, the fame year, received the re ::t. — 

The frarners of the ftamp act flattered thc!7}fcives ? 
that *he confuuon which would srife from ih: 
vSe of wrkin^s, would compel the colonies to vfit 
fiarrp par^ 5 znd therefore to pay the taxes :r::pc~ 
{zd. Thus they were Iti to pronounce it to kz a 
h^r which would execute itfclf. 

Mr. GrervHe, however, was not without his 3p« 
prehenbgns that it might occafion difcrders ^ to 
prevent or fupprefs which he projected an 
bill, which was brought in the fame fefiiosa, 
thereby it was made lawful for military officers 
if: the colonies to quarter their foldieis in private 
hcufes. This fetmed intended to awe the people 



€11.211.3 NORTH AMERICA. jg£ 

into a compliance with the other a£h Great op- 
pofition being t^ade to if, as under fu.ch a power 
in the army, no one could look on his houfe as his 
own, that part of the bill was dropt j but there 
ftill remained a claufe when it paO'ed into a law, 
to oblige the ftveral afiemblies ro provide quar- 
ters for the foldiers, and to fumifii them with fi- 
ring, bedding, candles, (mall beer, rum, and fun- 
dry other articles, at the expenfe of the feveral 
.provinces. This claufe continued in force after 
she fiamp a£t was repealed. 

Thefe proceedings of the mother country gave- 
rife to great diflurbances in America. Some per- 
fons. of cpnfequence at Bo lion, to ma nif eft their 
abhorrence and deteftation of a party in England, 
who they fuppofed were endeavoring to fobvert - 
the Britifh conftitution, to enilave the colonies 
and to alienate the affections of his msje fly's mod 
faithful fubje£ts in America, early in the morning 
of the 14th of Auguft hung upon the Hcnb ox 2, 
large dead elm, near the entrance of Bollon, io 
one cf the moll public ftreetSj two effigies. One 
of them as appeared by the labels affixed thereto, 
was intended to reprefent the ftarap officer ; the 
other was a jack-boot with a head and horns peep- 
ing out of ths top. 



5? TtfE HISTORY OF [CH. lift 

The report of this novelty drew great numbers 
from every part of the town and the neighboring 
country. This affair was left to taks its own 
courfe, fo that an enthufiaftic fpirit diffufed itfclf 
into the minds of the fpedlators. In the evening, 
the figures were cut down, and carried in funeral- 
proceilion, the populace (homing, liberty and propr 
erty forever ! No Ramps, &c. 

They then went to a new building, eretted bj 
Mr. Oliver, which they pulled down, falfely fup- 
poilng it to be deilgnsd for the (lamp office. A$ 
foon as they approached Mr. Oliver's koufe they 
beheaded the effigy, at the fame time breaking all 
bis windows, and demolishing his gardens, fences, 
barns, and every thing which came in their way* 

The next day, Mr. Oliver, fearfu! of what might 
happen, declared that he had written to England 
and reGgned. The mob aJembltd again at night - , 
and after fome exprefEons of joy for the rellgna- 
tion, proceeded to the lieutenant governor's, Mr. 
Hutchinfon's houfe, which they beSeged for zn 
hour, but in vain; ixifiiliog repeatedly upon knew* 
ing, whether he had not written in favor of the 
ftamp a£h 

Thefe disorders grew every day more enormous 
and alarming. Mobs ones rsifed fson become 



GH. III.] NDRTH AMERICA* <jft 

ungovernable by new and large acceilions, and 
extend their original intention far beyond thofe of 
the "original inftigators. Crafty men may inter- 
mix with them, when they are much heated, and 
direct their operations very differently from what 
was firft deGgned. 

People in England were differently affected By 
the difturbances in the colonies. Some were for 
fupporting the authority of Parliament at all 
events, and for enforcing ths {lamp act, if needful* 
with the point of the fword ; while others were 
for quieting the colonies by the repeal of it. Hap- 
pily for them, Mr. Grenviile and his party were 
thrown out of place, and were fuccecdei by fbe 
Marquis of Rockingham, when, on the 2Zd of 
February, 1766, this obnoxious aft was repealed* 

In May, 1767, Mr. Charles Townfend, then 
chancellor of the Exchequer, moved the Houfe of 
Commons for leave to bring in bills for granting a 
duty upon paper, glafs, painters' colours, &c< m 
the Brm(h American colonics ; for fettling falariea 
on the governors, .-.judges, &c. in North America ; 
and for taking off the duties or> teas exported to 
America, and granting a ^\xty of three pence a 
pound on the importation in America. Twa 



66 - HISTORY CF . IIJo 

were at length framed, 2nd in June received the 
royal affect*. 

Thefe ads occadoned frefii diilurbances in 
America, where matters were earned to a much 
greater height than before. In confequence of 
this, Lord Hillfborotigh wrote to General Gage, 
in June, 1768, to fend troops to Bcfton, in order 
to preferve the peace of that town. 

The introduflion of troops into Bcfton was at- 
tended with very ferious confeo/uences. The in- 
habitants became exceedingly riotous, and forne of 
the rabble pulhed their ill conduct fo far, as to 
oblige the foldiers to tire en them in their own 
defence. This happened en the 5th of March, 
177c, when three perfons were killed, five danger- 
Oufly wounded, and a few (lightly. 

This was far from removing the evil, and only 
tenJed to widen the breach. Under the notion of 
2td\ for liberty, the tabble ran into the molt exten- 
sive licentitmfnefs, and were every where guilty of 
the mod lawlefs, unjuft and tyrannical proceed- 
ings, pulling down houfes, deftroying the propeTty 
of every one that had fallen under their difpleaf- 
ure and delivering prifoners Otft of the hands of 
juftice. 



CH. III.] NORTH AMERICA. 6 1 

Let us now turn our attention to fee what was 
•doing, in the mean time at home. The fupport* 
ing the authority of parliament, was the only caufa 
affigned by the rninifter himfelf for retaining the 
tea duty at the very time he acknowledged it to be 
as anti-commercial a tax, as any of thcfe that had 
been repealed upon that principle. 

The Eaft India company feeling the bad effects 
of the colonial fmuggling trade in the large quan- 
tities of tea, which remained in their ware horji 
unfold, requeued the repeal of the three pence 
per pound in America, and offered, on its being 
complied with, government (hould retain fix pt 
in the pound on the exportation. Thus the com- 
pany prefented the happieft opportunity that cc ; i 
have been offered for honorably removing the 
caufe of difference with America. This afforded 
an opening for doing juilice, without infringing 
the claims on cither fide* The muulter was re- 
queued and intreated, by a gentleman of great 
weight in the company, and a member of parlia- 
ment, to embrace the opportunity $ but it was ob- 
ftinately rcjetSled. 

New contrivances were fet on foot to rattodtotfe 
the tea, attended with the three penny dutj. ii - 
F 



Si THE HISTORY OF [CK. III. 

all the colonies. Various intrigues and folicita« 
lions were ufed to induce the Eaft Lidia company 
to undertake this ra(h and foolifh bufinefs. It 
was protefted againft as contrary to the principle 
oi the company's monopoly •, but the power of 
the miniftry prevailed, and the infignificant three- 
penny duty on tea was doomed to be the fatal bone 
©f contention between Great Britain and her colo- 
nies. The company at laft adopted the fyftem, 
and became their ewn fa6tors. They fern 600 
chefts cf tea to Philadelphia, the like quantity to 
New-York and Bolton, befides what was conGgned 
to other places. Several (hips were alfo freighted 
for different colonies, and agents appointed for 
the difpofal of the csmmodity. 

In the mean time the eclonifts, who well knew 
v hat had patTed in the mother country, were con- 
ceiting mealures to ccunteradl the views of the 
Bntifn miniftry. Soon after the arrival of the 
te,x rhlps at Bolton, a number of perfons, chiefly 
tcrs of veffds, and (hip builders from the nortk 
end of the town, about feventeen in number, drejjt 
ed ah Indians, went on board the ihips, and ia 
a^out two hours holded out cf them and broke 
open 342 chelts of tea, th« contents of which they 
uulo the fea. They were not in the teaft 



CM. XII.] NORTH AMERICA* 6$ 

molcfted ; for the multitude of fpe&ators on the 
wharf ferved as a covering party. The whole bu- 
fmefs was conduced with very little tumult, and 
no damage was done to the veflels er any other 
property. When the bufinefs was finifhed, the 
people returned quietly to their own towns and 
habitations. 

Thefe and other decifive proceedings of the 
Boftonians, induced the Britifli minitlry to bring 
in a bill into parliament, « for the immediate re- 
moval of the officers concerned in the collection of 
the cuftoms at Bofton, and to discontinue thg 
landing £nd difcharging, lading and fliipping of 
goods, wares and merchandises at Bolton, or with* 
in the harbor thereof." On the 31ft of March, 
1774, the bill received the royal afient, 

Other bills were pafied by the Brltifli Parlia- 
ment, brought in by Lord North, all tending to 
puniih the Americans, and the Boftontans in par- 
ticular for their refractory behaviour. Petitions 
were fent over from America, and feveral of the 
members of both houfes reprobated thefe fevers 
sr>d dangerous proceedings ; but no regard was 
paid either to the petitions or to the remon (trances 
of the minority in both houfes. The then minif- 



64 THE HISTORY Of [CH % HI. 

HY$ & f ^:" I ead ox which was Lord North, were 

.mined (o accept from the Americans of no- 
thing flvort of abfolutc and implicit obedience to 
the laws of taxation. On the other hand, the peo- 
ple of Ms Setts' Bay, fupported and fpurrcd 
en by the other colonies, were determined not to 
fttt . .repared to repel force by force. They 
Jed ail the arms they could, and fpent much 
cf their time in the exercife of them. 

Thefle proceedings of the people, and their man-, 
on to refidince, alarmed the gen- 
eral, who thought it necefiary, for sty of the 
3, as well as to fecure the important poft of 
n, to fortify the entrance at the neck, which 
afforded the only communication, except by water, 
between the town and the continent. 

In England, petitions were preferred from the 

hanis of London, and alrnofl all the trading 

os in the kingdom-, and Mr. Bollan, Dr. 

klin, and Mr. Lee, alfo prefented petitions 

frosn the American congrefs 5 but government 

d them with indifference and contempt. 

Lor4 Chatham perfevered in the prcfecution cf 
his conciliatory fchsme with America, and accord- 



CH.T1T.] NORTH AMERICA, 6$ 

ingly brought into the houfc of lords the outlines 
of a bill, which he hoped would anfwer that falu- 
tary purpofe •, but the miijiftry reje £ted it. At the 
fame time, Lord North gave a (ketch of the mea- 
sure s he intended to purfue, which were to fend a 
greater force to America, and to bring in a Tempo- 
rary aft, to put a ftcp to all the foreign trade of 
the different colonies of New-England, particular- 
ly their fifliery on the banks of Newfoundland, 
till they icturned to their duty. 

While rnattters were thus going on at home, 
General Gage, at Bofton, received intelligence that 
cannon and carriages were depofued in the neigh- 
borhood of Salem. He accordingly feat a body of 
troops from the caflle to feize them, but the Amer- 
icana found time to get them away, and the troops 
returned without effecting any thing. 

A (kirmifn having happened at Lexington, be- 
tween the king's troops and a party of the militia, 
Genera! Gzge no fooner received this intelligence 
than he detached Lord Percy to Concord, with 
fixteen companies of foot, and a number of ma- 
rines, 900 men in the whole, and two-'piecss cf 
e-annon, to fupport Colonel South,' 
F z 



r::z histoid v of fen. m. 
Icr Lord Petty, 

efpecially as they now 

P r poa the rear in a direct line ; but the 

v vh' I -itare to halt long, as the 

r - 50 a:ri militia were every where ccIIecT!:- 

i Icr to cut off their retreat to Bofton. — 

:d their march, conftac -;&- 

iaual fire, though often 

irregular and fcattering on their fide, as well as on 

provincials. The clcfe firing frc 

:, by 300J markfmen, for fuch were 

rovi icials, put the troops into n-j 

tail confoGoo, and made it fo dangerous I 

tentive to their fafe- 
fy than common. The regular^ when near Cam- 

tat of taking a wrcng 

i have lee? them into the m< 

lit were prevented by the d:» 

reGding a: the ccU 

: .r retreat a little after 

ifet, over Chas Q neck to Eunker's hill, but 

; exceilive f a t i / u - r the 
jy between 
.... i '-; . - miles. H>;e I ^:d fc- 



CH, III/] NORTH AMERICA, 67 

cure till the next day, when they croflcd at Charlef- 
town ferry, and returned to Bofton, In this fkir- 
mifii, the regulars had 65 killed, 180 wounded, 
and 28 made prifoners. The provincials had 50 
men killed, 34 wounded, and 4 naiiling, 

Let us now return to the mother country, where 
the retraining and fifhery bill met with great op- 
pofition in both houfes of parliament. The fishery 
bill had fcarcely cleared the Houfe of Common?, 
when Lord North brought in another to re ft rain 
the trade and commerce cf the colonies of New- 
Jesfey, Pennfyivania, Maryland, Virginia, and 
South Carolina, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the 
Britifn iflands in th«s WeftJadicSj under certain 
conditions and limitations. 

The Britlft mimftry did not confine themselves 
to the making of laws \ but they slfo (cvi out 
againft the Americans the Generals Howe, Clinton 
and Burgoyne, who left England on the 28th of 
May, and in about a week afterwards tranfports 
laden with troops failed from Cork, to reinforce j 
General Gage. 



68 THE HISTORY OF [cH. III. 

Memorable Events recorded in this Chap- 
ter. 

Expedition ajrainft Lou'.fburg, - A. D. 1745 
Genera! Braddock defeated, - - 2755 

Maffachufetts afilmbly declare againft par- 
liamentary taxes, - - - • - I/64 
The (lamp act.pafTcd — Riots at Bofton on 

account of tliat a£t, - l 7&$ 

The (lamp aft repealed, - 1766 

Mr. C. Townfend taxes the colonies again, 1767 
Troops ordered to Boftun, - - 1768 

Soldiers at Softon fire on the inhabitants, 177© 
The Eafl-India company empowered to ex- 
port their own teas. — The tea thrown in- 
to the fea at Boftcr, - - - 1773 
The MafTachufetts people prepare to defend 
their rights by arms. — General Gage for- 
tifies the entrance into Bofton, . - 1 7 74 
General Gage fends troops to Salem — Skir- 
mishes at Concord and Lexington — The 
Teftraining bills p-uTed ia England — The 
Generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne, 
fail for Bdlon ? - 1775 



£H. IVJ NORTH AMERICA, 6f 



CHAPTER IV.. 

THE neceffity of fecunng Tieonderoga was 
esrly attended to by many in New-England. Gen. 
Gage had fet the example of attempting to feize- 
upon military (tores* and by fo doing had commen- 
ced hoftilities, fo that retaliation appeared war- 
rantable. 

Colonel Allen was at Caftleton, with about 270 
i 83 en, 230 of whom were Green mountain Boys, fo 
called from their redding within the limits of the 
Green Mountains, the Hampshire Grants being fo 
denominated from the range of green mountains 
that run through them. Sentinels were placed im- 
mediately on all the roads to prevent any intelli-. 
gence being carried to Ticcnderoga. 

Col. Arnold, who now joined colonel Allen re- 
ported that there were at Ticonderoga, So pieces, 
of heavy cannon, 20 of brass, from four to eighteen 
pounders, ten or a dozen mortars, a number of 
fmall arms, and considerable ftores *, that the fort 
was in a ruinous condition, and as he fuppofed, 
garrifoned by about 40 men. It was then let tkd| 



70 **N HISTORY OF [CH, IV, 

that colonel Allen fhould have the fapreme com- 
mand, and colonel Arnold was to be his adiftant. 

Colonel Allen, with his 230 Green Mountain 
Boye, arrived at Lake Gb > o^ pofire ro Ti- 

conderoga, on the 9th of May, at night. B 
^ere with difficulty procured, when he and colonel 
Arnold creffrd over with S3 men, anr landed near 
th garrifon. The two colonels advanced aio> g 
fide of each other, and entered the port, leading 
to the for^ in th- rnirg. A U 

(napped h : K fufee at colonel Allen, and th^n re- 
treated through tht covered way to the parade. -— 
The main body of Americans then followed, ?rd 
drew up. Captain de la Place, the commander, 
was furprized in bed. Thus was the place taken 
without any bloodihed. 

On the 15th' June, 1775, the congrefs proceed- 
ed to choofe by ballot, a General to command all 
the continental forces, and George Wafiiingtcn, 
Efq. was unanimously elected. 

The next day orders were ifmed by the Amer- 
icans, for a detachment of a thoufand men, 
to march at evening, and intrench upon Bunker's 
Hill. By fame miftake, Breed's Hill, high and 
large like the other, but Etuated on the furtheft 



CM. IV.J NORTH AMERICA. 7 1 

part of the peninfula, next to Bolton, was marked 
cut for the intrenchment inftead of Bunker's. The 
provincials proceeded therefore to Breed's hill , 
but were prevented going to work till near 12 
o'clock at night, when they purfued their bufinefs 
with the utmod diligence and alacrity 5 fothat by 
the diwn of the day they had thrown up a fnrul! 
redoubt, about eight rods fquare. Such was the 
extraordinary fiience that reigned among them, 
that they were not heard by the Britifh on board 
their veSVis in the neighboring waters. The 
fight of the work was the firft notice that the Live- 
ly man of war had of them, when the captain be- 
gan firing upon them about four in the morning,. 

The guns called the town of Bolton, the camp, 
and the fleet, to behold a novelty, which was lit 1 Is 
expected. The profpect obliged the Britifh gene- 
ra's to alter the plan they intendtd to have purfued 
the next day. They grew wtary of being cooped 
in Bolton, and had refolved upon making the ai- 
felves readers of Dorchefter heights \ but the pref- 
ent provincial movement prevented the expeditions 
v were now called to attempt poflcffing them- 
felves of BreedVliill, en which the provincials 
continued working, notwkhftaoding a heavy tire 
from the enemy's fe%$, a sumfee* of floating bat- 



72 THE HISTORY OF [CH. IV. 

teriec, zv.d a fortification upon Ccpp's hill, in Bof^ 
ton, diredtly oppofite to the little American re- 
doubt. An incefiant fhower of (hot and ben bs 
was poured Ly the batteries upon the American 
work, and yet but one man was killed. 

The Americans continued laboring indefatigably 
till they had thrown up a fmall breaft work, ex- 
tending from the eaft fide of the redoubt to the 
bottom of that hill -, but they were prevented com- 
pleting it from the intolerable fire of the enemy. 
By feme unaccountable error, the detachment, 
which had been working for hours, was neither 
relieved nor fapplied with refrefhments, but were 
left to engage under thefe difadvantages. 

Between twelve and one o'clock, and the day 
exceedingly hot, a number of boats and barges, 
filled with regular troops from Bo (Ion approached 
Charleftown, when the men were landed at More- 
ton's point. They confided of four battalions, two 
companies of grenadiers, and ten of light infantry, 
with a proportion of field artillery ; but, by feme 
cverfight, their fparc cartridges were much too big 
for them : fo that when the Americans were at 
length forced from their lines, there was not a 
found of artillery cartridges remaining. 



CH. IV.] NORTH AMERICA. f$ 

Major General Howe and Brigadier General Pi- 
got had the command. The troops formed, and 
remained in that pofition, till joined by a fecoml 
detachment of light infantry and grenadier coa^ps- 
nies, a battalion of the land forces, and a battalioji 
of marines, amounting in the wholt to about 3003 
men. The Generals Clinton znd I >e took 

their (land upon Capp's hi!!, to cbf^rve and con- 
template the bloody and deil:ruc^ive cpemi^ s 
that were now commencing. The regulars form- 
ed in two lints, and : J deliberately, fre- 
quently halting to give time for the artillery to 
fire, which was not well ferved. The light infan- 
try were directed to force the left point of the 
breaft work, and to take the American line in Sai 
The grenadiers advanced to attack in front, im- 
ported by two battalions, while the left under Gen. 
Pigot, inclined to the right of the American line, 
I One or two of the continental regiments had beeu 
polled in Charleftown, bet afterwards removed to 
prevent their being cut eft by a fuddec attack % \o 
that the Britife were not in the lead hurt by the 
mufkeiry from thence. 

General Gage had for feme time refohed upon 
burning the town, whenever any works were rai- 
f«d by the Americans ypoa the hills belonging to 
G 



74 THS HTSTORV OF [ch. IV, 

It j and while (he Britifli were advancing nearer to 
the attack, orders came to Ccpp's hill for execut- 
ing the refclution. Scon after a carcafs was cif- 
tharged, which fipt fire to an old houfe near the 
ferry way ; ihe fire inftactly fpread, sad mod of 
the place was foon in Samcs ; while the hcufes at 
the eaftern cad cf Charleftown were fet on fire by 
men who landed from the boatt. 

The regulars derived no advantage from the 
fmohe of the coafiagratioc, for the wild fuddenly 
fluffing carried it another way fo that it could not 
cover them in their approach. The provincial had 
not a rifleman among them, not ons being yet ar- 
rived from the fouthward ; nor Lad tbev anv other 
guns than corjirncn roufkels, and eventhofe were 
not furnifaed with bayonets. However they were 
alaibft all raaikfcnen, being accudorned to fportiag 
of one kind or ether from their youth. A number 
of MaiTachufetts people were in the redoubt, and 
the part of the breaft work neareft it. — The ieft cf 
the breaft work, and the open ground (Iretching 
beyond its point to the water fide, through which 
there was apt au opportunity of carrying the work) 
was occupied partly by the MaiTachufetts forces, 
and partly by the people cf Connecticut* 



CH. iv/} NORTH AMERICA. 75 

The Biitilh moved on flowly to the aftack, in- 
Aead of afing a quick ftep ; which gave the pro- 
vincials the advantage of taking furer and cooler- 
aim. Thefe referved their fire, tiii the regulars 
came within ten or twelve rods, when they began 
a furious difcharge of fmall arms* which (lopped 
the regulars, who kept up the firing without advan- 
cing. The difcharge from the Americans was fo 
incefunt, and did fuch execution, that the regulars 
retreated in difcrder, and with great precipitation 
towards the place of landing. Their ofikers ufed 
every effort to make them return to the charge, 
"with which they at length complied; hut the 
Americans again, referved their fire till the regulars 
came within five or fix rods, when the enemy was 
a fecead time put to flight. 

General Howe and the officers redoubled tieir 
exertions ; and General Ciinton, perceiving how 
the army was daggered, faffed over, without 
waiting for orders, and joined them in time to be 
of fervice. The Americans being in want of pow- 
der, fent for a fupply but could procure none $ 
for there was but a barrel and a half in the maga- 
zine. This deficiency difabled them from making: 
the fame defence as before ; while the Rrkiih 
reaped 2 further advantage by bringing fome sas* 



76 THE HISTORY OF fell. IV. 

non to bear, fo as to rake the inf:de of the breafl- 
work from ead to end. The regular army now 
made a decifive pufii, and the fire from the 
and batteries was redoubled. The provincials 
aysre of neceffity ordered to retreat. 

It was feared by the Americans, that the Brittfh 
troops would pufh the advantage they had gained, 
and march immediately to the head quarters at 
Cambridge, about two n dift; :t, and in no 

fiate of d\:ftncc. Eat they advanced no farther 
than io Bunker's hV ] s where they threw up works 
for their own fecurity, provincials did the 

fame upon profpe£i hill, in front cf them, a 
fcaif way to Cambridge. 

The lofs of the BritHh according to Gen. Gage, 
•amounted to 1054* of whom 226 were killed 5 cf 
ihefe 19 were com mi (Eon ed officers, including 3 
lieutenant colonel, two ni2jors, and feven captains. 
Seventy other officers were wounded. — Among 
thofe rr,ore generally regretted, were lieutenant- 
colonel Abercromby and major Pitcairn. 

The provincials had 1 39 killed, 278 wounded 
and 36 were miffing, in all 453. 

In the opinion cf many, General Howe was 
chargeable with a capital error in landing and at- 



CH. IV.] NORTH AMERICA, 77 

tacking ae fee did. It might originate from too 
great a confidence in the fcrces he commanded 

and in too contemptuous an opinion of the enemy 
he had to encounter. He certainly might have en- 
trapped the provincials, by landing on the narrow- 
eit part of Charleftown neck, under the fire of the 
floating batteries and fhips of war. Here he might 
have Rationed and fortified his army, and kept up 
an open communication with Boiion by a watev 
carriage, which he would have commanded thro' 
the aid of the navy, on each fide of the peoinfula. 
Had he made this manoeuvre, the provincials mufl 
have made a rapid retreat from Breed's hill, to et- 
cape having his troeps in their rear, and being en- 
clofed. It was faid that general Clinton propofed 
it. The rejecaon of that propcfai greatly weajc= 
sned the Britifh army, and probably prevented the 
ruin of thQ Americans, 

In July, the congrefs received a letter from the 
convention of Georgia, fetting forth, that the col* 
ony had acceded to the general ^ilbciation, and ap- 
pointed delegates to attend the coogreft. 

The scccfiion cf Georgia to the colonies ecca- 
cnGoned their being afterwards called The Thiri 
I r mUd Colonies. The fhft hoftilitks that haj 
G z 



7? THE HISTORY OF [cil, IV. 

pv'nsd in this part, between the oppcfite parties, 
commenced about the middle of November, when 
a number of royalifts attacked the Americans, and 
obliged them lifter three days to fuircnder a fort 
they fead taken poffeflion of, ia which they expell- 
ed to stake tn effectual reiulance. 

In the month of November, the New- York con- 
vention having refolred upon the removal of the 
cannon from the battery of the city, captain Sears, 
was appointed to the bufmefs. Captain Vandepur, 
>f *he Ada man of war, was privately informed of 
- defign, and prepared to oppofe its execution. 
raing wktu it was to be attempted, he appoint- 
a boat to watch the motion of the people af- 
f j bled for the purpofe *bout the dead of night. 
.: failors in the boat giving the Ggu^f, with a 
fofti of powder of what w*s going forward, the 
per fens on fhore millook it for and an attempt to 
fire a mufket at then), aad immediately fired a vol- 
rf fhot at etc host, by which a mac was killed. 
T. adepat fooj after commenced a firing 
m the Aria wx*& gfcp* and fwivel ihofj 18 and 
24 jnu^= : ers; without killing a 6ngie perfon, and 
::.:.e, two fiightlyj the ether loft 
•be calf of the leg. He th^n eeafed for a confid- 
Eimv, fuppofi the people had gefifted 



CI-!. IV.] NORTH AMERICA, 

from their pufpofe* while they were only chang- 
ing their mode of operation. 

Captain Sears provided a deceiving party, in* 
tended to draw the Afia's fire from tht line of the 
working party. He fent the former behind a 
breaft work, by which they were fecured by dodg- 
ing down upon obfervicg the fiafii of the Afia's 
guns. When ail was in readiaefs, they huzzaed, 
and fung out their notes as though tugging in inl- 
and fired from the walls \ while the work- 
ing party Clently got off twenty-one 18 pounders, 
witli carnages, empty cartridge, rammers, Src. 

Upon healing the noife and feeing the fire 
the mufeetry, the captain ordered the Ana to Ere 

a whole brcadude towards that part of ihz 
where the deceiving party had fecured -hemfeivesj 
without intending any particular injury to the city. 
However (bene of the {bet flew into the city, and 
did damage. 

This afiair happened at a very late hour, be- 
tween twelve and two, and threw the citizens in- 
to the utmoft confiernation. The didrefs of the 
New-Yorkers w.as very ruuch increafed by a pain- 
ful apptehenfion, that captain Vandeput wouic re- 
new his ferivjg upon the $ity. A removal of men 5 



SO THE HISTORY CF [CH. IV. 

women, children, and goods inftantly commenced 
znd continued for iotae tics?. Matters v 
however (o £«r arfjufted, as to quiet the appreht n- 
fidos cf the people, in reference to their fullering 
further from the fire of the Afia. To prevent ft 
the convention permitted Abraham Lotf, Efq. to 
fupply his majefty's (hips, ftationed at New* York, 
with al! necefisries, as well frefh as falte^, f 01 the 
»fe of thofe flaps, 

In the month of November, the general afiem- 
bly cf Rhode-Iflaad paffed an a£l for the capital 
pirni foment of perfons, who ihould be found guil- 
ty of holding a traitorous correfpgndei lh the 

iftry of Great Britain,, or any cf thcil ofE 
cr agents, or of fupplyjeg the ministerial arn 
navy, eai [ ■■. . ?gai^ii the United Colonies, with 
provifions, arms, &c. or ofa&ing as pilots on board 
any of. their vefleU. They alfo pa§ed sn z £1 for 
fequefleting the e&ates of feveral psrfc:;? ; « 
they confidered as avowed enemies to :;.e I 
ties of America. 

On the night of the 26th of Auguft, about aoco 
American troops entrenched the&felres on Plow- 
ed hill, within point blank fhot of Bunker Vhill; 
and nctwlthftanding a continual fire on the r 



€H. IV.] NORTH AMERICA. gj 

the day following, they had only 2 killed and 2 
wounded. The Britiih finding that their fire did 
not anfwer, relaxed, and after a while defifted en- 
tirely, and the Americans remained quiet in thci? 
new Doft. 

In the beginning of September, general Wafh- 
ington received a very acceptable remittance of 
7000 pounds weight of powder, which had been 
very fcarce in the American army. 

General Wafiiington, having received pleafing 
accounts from Canada, being allured that neii 
Indians nor Canadians could be prevailed upon to 
&£t again*! the Americans, concerted the plan of 
detaching a body of troops from the head quar- 
ters, acrofo the country to Quebec. He commu- 
nicated the fame to general Schuyler, who ap- 
proved if, and all things were got in re.adinefe. — 
They fet out on the expedition on the 1 3th of Sep- 
tember, under the command of colonel Amok 1 , 
afiiited by the colonels Greens and Enos, and ma- 
jors Meigs and Bigelow, the whole force amount- 
ing to about eleven hundred men* 

On the i8ch of O&ober, Capt. Mowat deftrof- 

ed 139 koufes, 278^ {tores and other buildings, the 
far greater and better patt cf the town of Fal- 



g'2 THE HISTORY CF [oil. IV. 

mouth, in the northern part of MsfTachufetts. The 
inhabitants in compliance with a refolvc of the 
provincial congrefs, to prevent lories carrying out 
their effs&f, gave feme violent obftru&ion to the 
loading of a maft Chip, which drew upon them ih*. 
indignation of the Biitifh admiral. 

In the mean time, genera! Montgomery W25 
lent Forward to Ticon with a body cF 

troops-, and being arrived at I atix Ndx, 

he drew up a declaration, which he ftnt among 
the Canadians, by col. Allen and major Brown, 
a flu* nig them that the army "gned only 

againft the Englifh gan and not againfl the 

country, their libertits or religion. He lays liege 
to St. John's, on the : ;th of September. 

Col. Allen and major Brown being on their re- 
tarn, after executing the commiffion, with which 
the general had intruded them, the latter advifed 

colonel Allen to halt, and propekd that the colonel 
fcould return to Longueil, procure canoes zi& 
crofs the river St. Laurence, a little north of Men--, 
treal, while he, the major, crofTed a little to the 
ibuth of the town, with near 2co men, aa he had 
boats fufficient. The plan was approved, and coL . 
AJlen pafled the river in the night. The pajor f , 



OH. IV/J ITORTK AMERICA, S3 

by feme means, failed on his part, and col, Allen 
found himfelf the next morning, in a critical Gtust» 
tion, but concluded on defending himfclf. Gen. 
Tarleton, learning haw weak colonel AUss was, 
marched out againft him with about forty regulars, 
together with Canadians, Englifh and Indians, 
amounting to foaie hundreds. The colonel de- 
fended hiaifelf with much bravery $ -but being de« 
ferted by fevetal, chiefly Canadians, and having 
had fifteen of his snsn killed, was under the necefri- 
ty of farrenderiag with thirty-one effectives and 
feven wounded, lis was direfil'y put in irons. 

On the 4th of OSobsr, a psrty of Canadians, 
who had joined the beQsgers, before St. Jehu's, 
intrenched themfehtts on the eaft Gde of the lake, 
on which the enemy feet an armed floop with 
troops to drive them away$ but the Canadians 
attacked the Hoop with vigor, tilled a number cf 
the men, and obliged her to return to St. John's 
in a Chattered condition. 

On the 7th the main body of the army decamped 
from the fouth and matched to the north fide of the 
fort. In the evening, they began to throw up a 
bread-work, in order to erect a battery of cannon 
and mortars. The continental troops fere's fudi a 



$4 THE HISTORY OF [CH. IV. 

fpirit of liberty into the field, and thought fo free- 
ly for thetrfelves, that they would not bear ei- 
ther fubordinaiion cr discipline. The generals 
could not, in truth, direft their eperatiors, sr.d 
would net have flayed an hour at their head, t 
they not feared that the example would be tco 
generally followed, and fo have itjured the public 
fervice. There was a great want of powder, which 
with the diforderly behavior of the troops, was a 
damp to the hope cf terminating the fiege fuccefs- 
fully. The profpeft however focn ^tightened, for 
the Americans planned an attack upon Chamblee, 
and in batteaus carried down the artillery paft the 
i^rt of St. Johtt's. Afier a fhort demur, Cham- 
blee furrendered to the majors Brown and Livirg- 
fton. The greateft aequifnion was about frx tons 
of powder, which gave great encouragement to the 
provincials. 

On the 3d of November, the garrifon of St. 
John's, coafifting of 500 regulars and ico Cana- 
dians, after a Gege of 46 days, furrendered by ca- 
pitulation. 

Oa the 1 2th of November, general Montgome- 
ry preffed on to Montreal, which not being capa- 
ble of making any defence, governor Carle ton 



CXI. IV. 2 NORTH AMERICA/ 

quitted it one day, and the American general en- 
tered it the mxt. 

Notwithstanding the advanced feafon of the 
year, general Montgomery marched on for the cap- 
ital, and on the 5th of December appeared be- 
fore Quebec. The garrifon confided of about 
fifteen hundred, while the befiegers were faid to 
conGil of little more than half the number, Up- 
on his appearing before the city, he fent forward a 
flag of truce, which was fired upon by order of Sir 
Guy Carleton. At this general Montgomery was 
fo provoked, that the next day he wrote to Sir 
Guy, and in his letter* departed from the common 
mode of conveying his fentirnents ; he made life 
of threats and language which ia his cooler mo- 
ments he would have declined. 

In fpite of the inclemency of the feafon, he fee 
about erecting works. His batteries were cempo- 
fed of fnow and water, which foon became foiid 
ice. He planted on them five pieces of ordnance, 
twelve and nine pounders, with one howitzer;-— 
but the artillery was inadequate^ and made no im- 
preflion. 

In the evening n council was held by all the com- 
manding officers of colonel Arnold's detachment, 
H 



86 THE HISTORY OF [ch. IV. 

and a large majority were for ftorming the garrU 
fon, as foon as the men were provided with bayo- 
nets, fpeare, hatchets, and hand grenades. The 
plan of ftorming the garrifcn was wholly the wcik 
of general Montgomery, who, in the council of 
war held on the occafion, 3ie7/ed the neceffity, 
practicability, and importance of it in fuch a clear 
and convincing manner, that they unanimoufly 
agreed to the meafure. The attempt had the ap- 
pearance of rafhnefs •, but the general was perfua- 
ded that men, who had bchav8d fo bravely, would 
follow him, and that Sir Guy Carleton's forces 
would not fight, when a£lual fervicc commenced. 

On the 31ft of December, the troops aflembled 
at the hour appointed. They were to make the 
attack by the way of cape Diamond, at the gene* 
ral's quarters on the heights of Abraham, and were 
headed by the general himfelf. Colonel Arnold 
was made to attack through the fuburbs of St. Roe. 
Colonel Livingfton and major Brown were to 
make a falfe attack upon the walls, to the fouth- 
ward of St. John's gate* and in the mean time to 
fct fire to the gate with the combuftibles prepared 
for that pnrpofe. The colonel was alfo to give the 
fignals for the combination of the attacks which 
were fo begin exactly at five o'clock. It is faid 



€H. IV.] NORTH AMERICA* 87 

that captain Frafer, of the regulars, who was then 
on piquet, going his rounds, faw the rockets fired 
off as fignals, and forming a conjecture of what 
was going forward, beat to arms without orders, 
and fo prepared the garrifon for defence. 

The different routes the affailants had to make, 
the depth of the fnow,and other obftacles 5 prevent- 
ed the execution of Livingfton's command. The 
general moved with his divifion, attended by a 
number of carpenters, to the piquets at cape Dia- 
inond. Thefe were foon cut with the faws, and 
the general pulled them down himfeif. He then 
entered, attended by the carpenters and fome of 
his officers. 

On their entrance, their guides forfook them, 
which alarmed the general and other officers, who 
weie unacquainted with the pafs and fituation of 
the enemy's artillery. However, they prefied on, 
and the general. obftrving that the troops did not 
follow with fpirit, called out, " Fie, for (hame ! 
will the New- York troops defert the caufe in this 
critical moment ? Will you not follow when your 
general leads ? Pufii on, brave boys, Quebec is 
ours." A few aded with refolution, advanced and 
attacked the guard houfe, when the enemy gave a 
difcharge of grape- fhot from their cannon, and al« 



88 THE HISTORY CP [CH, IV. 

fo of fja^H arms, which proved fata! to the gener- 
al, his aid-de-camp, captain Chcfeman and others. 
The firing from the guard houfe ceafed, by the en- 
emy's quitting their poft, and the opportunity of- 
fered for the 4 5 to pufb forward with fuc- 
eefa ; but the deputy quarter-rnafter-general, 
Campbell, with the rank of colonel, affumed the 
command, ordered a retreat, which took place^ 
.he wburicled were carried off to the camp. 

T:e diviiion under colonel Arnold was equally 
unfuccefaful. The colonel received a wound in 
okc of his legs from a mufket bill, and was carried 
to the general hofpital. His men maintained their 
ground till ten o'clock^ when, all hopes of relief 
being over, they were obliged at lafl to furrender 
prifoners of war. In this attack the provincials 
loft upwards of one hundred men. General Mont- 
gomery was fhot through both his thighs and his 
head. His body was taken up the next day, an el- 
egant coffin was prepared and he was foon after 
decently interred. The general was tall and flen*. 
dpi;, well limbed, of eafy, graceful, and manly ad- 
drefs. - He had the love, edeem, and confidence 
of the whole army -, he was of a good family in 
Ireland, and had ferved with reputation in the late 
with France. His excellent qualities and dif- 



CH. IV,] NORTH AMERICA. 89 

petition procured him an uncommon fliare of pri- 
vate afFe&ion, and his abilities, of public efteem. 
His death was confidered as a greater Iofs to the 
American caufe, than all the others with which it 
was accompanied. 

When the continental troops had colleGed af* 
ter the unfuccefsful attack on Quebec, there arofe 
a difpute who {hould command, and whether it 
was advifeable to Taile the fiege, or wait till a re- 
inforcement {hould arrive, A council of war 
agreed, that colonel Arnold (hould command, and 
fhoald continue the fiege, or rather the blockade, 
which was accordingly done, apparently at no fmall 
rifej as they had not more than four hundred men 
fit for duty ; but. they retired about three miles 
from the city and polled themfelves advantagecuil| , 



Memorable Events recorded in this Chap- 
ter, 

The expedition againil Tieonderoga, A. D» 2775 
George Washington, Efq. elected commands 

er in chief of the continental forces, - do. 
The battle of Bunker's hill, - - do. 

Georgia accedes to the Union*, * do, 

H 2 



9° THE HISTORY OF [cH. V. 

The thirteen colonies united, - - 1775 

The Ada man of war fires upon New- York, dc. 

Col. Arnold's expedition into Canada, - do* 

Falmouth deftroyed, and en what account, do. 

Col. Allen taken prifoncr, and put in irons, do. 
Gen. Montgomery appears before Quebec, 

2nd falls in an attack upon it, - do. 



CHAPTER V. 

LET us now return to Eoflon and its environs* 
znd fee what was tranfa£ted there. On the 15th 
of February, 1776, the ftrength of the ice having 
been tried in one place, and the frofi: continuing, 
Gen. Walhington was defirous of embracing the 
fsafon for paffing oyer it from Cambridge fide in- 
to Bolton, He laid before the council of war, the 
following question : " A ftroke well aimed at this 
Critical jur cture may put a final period to the war, 
reftore peace and tranquillity fo much to be 
ed for; and therefore, whether part of Cam* 
c and Rosbury bays being frozen over, a gen* 
: ; - ifd not be made on Bolton ? ?> 



CH. v/] NORTH AMERICA. 9} 

General Ward oppofrd the ides, faying, « the 
attack muft be made with a view of bringing on 
an engagement, or of driving the enemy out cf 
Bofton, and either end will be anfwered much 
better by poffefiiog Dorehefter heights/'*, When 
the votes were called for, the majority were agaiuft 
the attack. It was however, determined topofiefs 
themfelves of Dorchefter heights, which was ac- 
cordingly afterwards accomplished. 

On the 5th of March, the Britifh admiral in*. ^ 
formed general Howe, that if the American: ;: .... > 
ftffed thofc heights 5 he could not keep one of his 
majefty's (hips in the harbor. Every defign cf 
general Howe to force the American works on ilit 
hill being fruftrated, a council, of war was called, 
when it was agreed to evacuate the town as foon 
as pofiible. The time that had been gained by the 
Americans for ftrcngthening their works, took 
away all hopes of any faccefsful attempts to be 
made on them by the Britifh forces. The Amer- 
icans had provided a grtzt number cf bar/els, fill- 
ed with (tones, gravel and farid, which were placed 
round the works, ready to be rolled down, with a 
view to break the lines of z^.j hcftlle advancing 
troopsj when afcending the hills, 



$2. THE HISTORY OF [cH.V, 

On the 7th of Match, there was a general hurry 
and confufion in Bofton, every one in the royal 
intereft, being bufy in preparing to quit the town, 
and to carry off every thing that was valuable. A 
flag was fent out from the feledl men acquainting 
Gen. Wafhington with the intention of the troops, 
and that general Howe was difpofed to leave the 
town (landing, provided he could retire uninter- 
rupted. Gen. Wafhington bound hlmfelf under 
no obligation, but exprefied .himfeif in words, 
which admitted of a favorable conftru&ion ; and 
intimated his good wishes for the prelervation ot 
Bolton. At four o'clock, in the morning of the 
| 37th, the embarkation was completed, 2nd ^efore 
ten the whole fleet was under fail, and the provin- 
cials foon after took poiTcflion of the town, 

Let us now take z view of what was doing in 
Virginia. Towards the clofe of 1775, the Liver- 
poo! frigate arrived at Norfolk from Great Britain. 
Soon after the captain fent a flag of truce, and de- 
manded to be informed whether his majefty's fhip 
of war would be fupplied from fhore with provif- 
ions. The reply was in the negative \ and the 
{hips in the haxbor being continually annoyed by 
the riiiemen from behind the buildings and ware- 



CH. V.J NORTH AMERICA. QJ 

houfes on the wharves, it was determined to dif- 
iodge them by deftroylng the town. 

Previous notice was given, that the women* 
children, and other innocent perfons might re- 
move from the danger. The entrance cf the new 
year was fignalized at four o'clock in the morning, 
by a violent cannonade from the Liverpool, two. 
{loops of war, and the governor'"* armed (hip the 
Dunmore, feconded by parties of failors and ma- 
rines, who landed and fired rhc houfes ncix the 
water. Where buildings, inftead of being coveted 
with tile, flate, or lead, are covered with (hingks, 
(thin light pieces of fir or cedar, half a yard iti 
length, and about fix inches broad) ht the wind 
be ever fo moderate, they will, upon being fired, 
be likely to communicate the conflagration to a dif- 
tance, fliould the weather be dry, by the burning 
fbingles being driven by the force of the flames to 
the tops of ether houfes, 

Thus the whole town was reduced to allies, that 
the Americans might have no fhelter, fhouid they 
be inclined to eftabjiih a poll on the fpot. A few- 
men were killed and wounded at the burn! 
Norfolk, the mod populous and confiderable town 
for commerce of any in Virginia. It c 



94 TH E HISTORY OF [CH, V. 

about 6000 inhabitants, and many in affluent cir- 
cumftances. The whole lofs was eftimattd at 
more than three hundred thoufand pounds fleiling. 
However urgent the nectffity, it was an odious 
?ght to fee Lord Bunmore, a principal a&or in 
burning and deftroying the beft town in his gov* 
ernmervt. The horrid dhtrefs brought upon num- 
bers of innocent perfens, by theft operations, mud 
wound the feelings cf all who are not hardened by 
a party fpirit* 

While matters were thus tranfacting in Ameri- 
ca, the miniftry at home gave into great expenfes, 
to fupply the army at Bofion with frtih provificr.s 
and other aniclts. Sir Peter Parker and Earl 
CornwalHs, with the Acteon ar\d Thunder bomb 
failed from Portfmouth for Cork, to convoy the 
troops and tranfports there to Ameiica ; but, ow- 
ing to fome delays, the fleet did not fail before the 
13th of February. It confuted of forty- three fail., 
and about 2500 troops. 

On the 14th of March, a frefh attempt was 
mace in the houfe of lords, to prevent a continu- 
ance of heftiikks, which fo far fucceeded, that in 
the May following, letters patent, by his majefty's 
orders paffed under the great feal, coaftituting lord 
Howe and general Howe, to. be his majefty's com- 



€H. V.J NORTH AMERICA. 9$ 

miffioners for reftoring peace to the colonies in 
North America, and for granting pardon to fuch 
of his majefty's fubje£is there, then in rebellion, 
as fhould deferve the royal mercy. The fame 
month commodore Hotham, with all the tranf- 
ports, haying the firft divifion of Heffians on board, 
failed from St. Helen's for North America. But 
let us return to Canada, and attend to what was 
going forward in that quarter. 

The blockade of "Quebec was continued •, but 
the fears of the Americans were great, as they had 
no more than 400 men to do duty, while there 
were upwards of three times the number in the 
dry ; they were in daily expedation that the be- 
fieged would fally out upon them. At length a 
fmall reinforcement arrived, which enabled them 
to take a little more reft, though the army was 
again foon reduced by the fmall pat that broke out 
among them. 

Towards the end of May, feveral legiments ar- 
rived from England, and the Briiiih forces in Can* 
ada were eftimated at about 13,000 men. The 
general rendezvous was appointed to be at Three 
Rivers, half way between Quebec and Montreal. 
The Americans now formed a plan to furprize the 



96 THE HISTORY 

Britifh troops, and for that purpofc marched under 
cover of the night, on the 8th of June, in order to 
attack them a little before day-break. General 
Thompfcn, who commanded in this expediter, 
had procured a Canadian guide, who was either 
ignorant or unfaithful \ for, a little before funrife, 
he found his forces were out of the proper road. 
They returned, but lofing their way by the fide of 
the river, they were foon in view cf fome cf the 
enemy's boats, between which and the flanking 
party feveral balls were exchanged. They then 
quickened their pace, and continued advancing in 
fight of the (hipping, v;ith drums beating and fifes 
playing, as they knew they were difcovered. The 
general judging there was no poffibility of palling 
the (hips, without being expofed to all their fire, 
and yet determining to perfift in the expedition, 
filed off at a right angle from the river. He meant 
to take a circuitous route, and enter the town on 
the backfide. A bad morals intervened, the trccps 
entered it, and the men were almcft mired. About 
nine o'clock they came to a cleared fpot, formed, 
and got into feme order about ten. Thty advan- 
ced, but before the rear had got off the place of 
formation , the front received a heavy fire from (he 
enemy,, which ilruck them with terror* The firs 



CM. -V.J NORTH AMERICA. 97 

was ir.ftantly repeated, and though the ball* flew 
over the heads of the troops without doing any ma- 
terial execution, they gave wsf, and crowc ed 
in the utmofl: confuScn, which left them without 
a leader, fo that every one did as he pleated.— 
They turned their faces up the rrrcr, and hafjl 
through the fwacsps as fad 'as ptfiSble« / 
eleven they began to collet, and fbon tamicd 
the Canadians, that the enemy bad feet a detach- 
ment, with federal field pieces hy Land, to cut off 
their retreat, and a party by wat<:r to feizc their 
boats. About four they were told that the 
had fecured the bridge before them, which it was 
fuppofed they rnuCl pafs. They were alfo convin- 
ced that a large body were clofely in their re£r«—- 
Co!. Maxwell ordered all who were cc!k£hd to* 
gether to halt, called the officers to him and faid, 
cc What liiail we do ? Shall we fight thole in the 
front or in the rear ? Shall we tamely fuhrnit ? or 
(hail we turn off into the woods, and each mm 
flnft for himfelf ?* The laft propofai was prefer- 
red, but the enemy was fo near, that the rest of 
the Americans was expofed to another tremen- 
dous fire, while going down the hill into the 
woods, but the balls Sew over them without ipjir- 
liogany. Theperfcn, who was intruiUd with the 
I 



9^ THE HISTORY Op [cil. V. 

care of the boats, had removed them in time to a 
fecure place ; fo that the lofs of the Americans 
which otherwise mull have been much greater, 
amounted only to about two hundred prifoners. 

The troops that efcaped began to colle& about 
ten the next day, and by neon were confidently 
numerous. They got along by decrees, and by 
funfet the day following arrived oppofitc Sou!. — 
Gen. There pfon zni colonel Irwin, the fecond in 
land, with fome other officers were taken.-— 
The killed and wounded of the king's troops were 
trifling. 

The king's forces having joined at Three Rivers, 
proceeded by land and water to Sore!, off which 
arrived in the evening, a few hours after 
tbe rear of the Americans had left it* A confid- 
!e body was landed, and the command given 
to geueral Burgcyae, with inR rue: ions to purfue 
the continental army up the river to St. John's, but 
without hazarding: any thing till another column on 
Ms right fhould be able to co-operate with him.— 
Sir Guy Carleton's extraordinary precaution to put 
nothing to hazard, when not abfolutely neceffaty, 
gave tbc Americans the opportunity of cfcaping. 
Mzd Bufgoyne been iaftru&ed to prefs on with the 



C~H. V.] NORTH AMERICA. 99 

utmoft expedition, great numbers of the provin- 
cials muft have been made prifoners, and but few 
would have crofted Lake Champlain. Thus end- 
ed the expedition againft Quebec, 

To return to Bolton. The Britlfh commodore. 
Banks, omitting to leave cruisers in the bay, afford- 
ed an opportunity to the American privateers of ta- 
king a number of Highlanders. Three days after 
his quitting it, the George and Annabella trans- 
ports entered, after a paffage of fevsn weeks from 
Scotland, during the eourfe of which they had not 
aa epponunity of fpeakirg with a Gugle ye 3*1 that 
could give thcfti the {"mailed information of ::z 
Brhilh troops having evacuated Soften* They 
were attacked in the morning by four privateers, 
with whom they engaged till the eyeing, when 
the privateers bore aw3y, and the tranfperts pufhed 
fsr BoCton harbor, not doubting but they fhould 
there receive protection, ehher from a fort or fhip 
of force itationed for the (county of Britifli vcilels. 
They flood up for-Nantafkct road, when an Amer- 
ican battery opened upon them, which was the fir ft 
ferious proof they had of th^ fituation of affairs at 
the port to which they were defined. They were 
too far embayed to retreat, as the wind had died 
away, and the tide was. half expended. The pri- 



IOO THE HISTORY OF [en. V. 

vateers with which they had been eftgage J, joined 
by two others, made towards them. They prepa- 
re fora&km s but, by feme misfortune the Anoa- 
bella got aground fg far a lem of the George, tl 
the hiter e;:p:eled bu: a hebic r^rport from L-r 
mufteiry. . ers 

by, ar_ ::i to (hike lie 

The nisle of tie Gecr^c, and every 
faiior en be tcejpted, r^Tulcu :o 

fight any logger , but the officers znd ; of 

the 71ft raiment flood to their quaittrs till all 
their ^mmuniticn was expendfil, - ; were 

...:zdio yidd. They hsd eight privates and a 
xn?jar kiikci belides 17 wounded. Tne number 
of Highlanders taken were 267 privates, 48 cff> 
eers befhies Lieut. Col. Campbell. 

Oa the 25th of June, general Howe arrivec 
Saady Hook in the Greyhound [e ;::;i 

received from governor Tryoa a full account of 
the flats &vA difpoGtkui of the province, r*a well 
as of the ftrength of the America:;-. General 
Washington's army was froall, rather below 9000 
fit for duty. Of this little army it was feid at 
kail aooo were wholly dettitute of arms, aa 
nearly as tT.auy with arms in fuch a condition £5 
to be rather calculated to difcourage than fesuruaic 



Ctl. V J NORTH AMERICA. 101 

the ufer. On the ad of July, general Howe's 
troops took pofieffion of Suten Ifland, 

On the i ft of July, congTsfs refolved itfelf into 
a committee of the whole upon the fubje& of In- 
dependence; but neither colonies nor members 
being unanimous, it was poftponed till the next 
day. On the fourth, they had it under further 
confideraiion, when the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence was agreed to and adopted. — The title of it 
was *•*- 

"■A Declaration by the Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress 



The preamble follows in thefe words : " Yflun 
in the courfe of human events, it becomes necef-- 
fary for one people to diffolve the political bands 
which have connected them with another, ,and to 
afiume, among the powers of the earth,, the fepa^ 
raiQ and equal Ration, to which the laws of nature 
and of nature's God entitle them r a decent refpeel 
to the opinions of mankind requires that they 
fi'Krold declare the eaufes which impel them to the 
fiTparation. 

if We hold thzte -truths to be felf-evident, that 
ail meft ate/coated equal— that they are endowed 
h 



102 THE HISTORY OF [ch, V. 

by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, 
tnat among thefe arc life, liberty and the purfuit 
of happinefc — That to ftcure thefe rights, govern- 
ments arc inftituted among men, deriving their juft 
powers from the confent of the governed — tkat 
whenever any form of government becomes de- 
firufiive of thefe ends, it is the right of the peo- 
ple to alter er aboliih it, and to inftitute a new 
government, laying its foundation on fuch princi- 
ple?, and organizing its powers in fuch form, as to 
them (hall feem moft likely to effe£t their fafety 
and happioefs. Prudence, indeed will dictate, 
governments long eftabiiflied, fhould not be 
changed for light and trail Gent caufes ; and ac- 
cordingly all experience hath (hown, that mankind 
are mere difpofed to luffcr, while evils are fuffei- 
able, than to right themitlvee by abolifhing the 
forms to which they are accuftomed. Bur when a 
long train of afcufes and ufurpations, puifuing in- 
var- ablv the feme obje£t, evinces a defign to reduce 
them under abfolute defpetifm, it is their right, it 
lz their duty, to throw ofF fuch government, and to 
provide new guards for their future fecurity.— 
Such has been the patient fufferaiice of thefe col- 
onies and fuch is now the neceflity which cob- 
trains theca to altei their former hftems cf gcv- 



CK. V.] 2*0 RTH AMERICA. IOJ 

The declaration proceeds to give a hiftory of 
repeated injuries and ufurpation, all having in c:U 
reft olj-cl the eftabli&mcnt ol an abfoiute tyran- 
ny over thole ftates. 

On the 8th of July, at 12 o'clock, the declara- 
tion of independence was proclaimed at the flats 
houfe in Philadelphia, amicift the greaicfl accla- 
mations. The nest day, in cenfequerne of genfc- 
ral orders, it was read at the head of each brigade 
of the continental army at New-'Xoik, and every 
where received with loud huzzas, and the utmeft 
demonftrations of joy. The fame evening the 
equeilrian ftatue of the Ling was hid proftra 
the ground, and the lead of which it was made 
was doomed to be run into bullets. 

On the 14th of Auguft, Lord Dusrriore quitted 
Virginia, and joined the Bfitifli forces. He arri- 
ved with Lord Campbell and Sir Peter Parker eft 
Staten IfJand. His Lordfhip continued oa the 
coafts, and in the rivers of Virginia, til! the clofe- 
nefs and 5kh of the (mall veffUs, in which the fu- 
gitives v>ere crowded, together with the heat of ihc 
weather, the hadnefs and (Varcity of ptovifionc, 
produced a geftiieniial fever, which made great 
havoc, cfpc&ially among the negroes, ir,*ny of 



204 *TM£ SfSTC • "OF [cx.'v. 

whom were fwefpt away. When at length every 
place vr£3 fliu i him, and neither water nor 

proviil re to be obtained, but at th« expenfs 

of blood, it was found neceffary to burn federal of 
the fmallcr and kaft valuable veflels, to prevent 
their falling into the hands of the Americana, and 
to fend the remainder with the exiled friends of 
government, to feck flicker in Florida, Bermuda.* 
and the .Weft-Indies. 

Lord Howe arrived off Halifax towards the end 
of June, and from thence proceeded to New-York, 
and reached Statcn Ifland by the 12th of July. — ' 
From thence he fent on {here by a flag to Anaboy, 
a circular letter, together with a declaration to fev- 
erai of the late governors of the colonies, acquaint- 
ing them with his powers, snd defiring them to 
pubiifli the fame as generally as poflible, for the 
information of the people. But it was now too 
lace to bring them back to the obedience of the 
mother country, Gnce the declaration of indepen- 
dence had been every where folemnly read. 

In the month of Aug^ft, general Howe finding 
hirafelf Efficiently ftrong to attenspt fomething, 
refolved en making a defeent on Long Ifland. The 
aaeceffary meafares being taken by the fitet for cot- 



eil. V.l NORTH AMERICA. IQ£ 

ering the defecnt, the army was landed without 
opposition, between two f/nall towns, Utrercht 
and Gravefend, net far from the narrows, on the 
neardt fhore to Siaten Ifland. 

On this ifland are feveral paflcs through the 
mountains or bills, which are eaOlj defenfible, be- 
ing very narrow and che i^nds high and mountain- 
ous on each fide. Thefe were the only roads .that 
could be palled from me (cuih fic!e of the hills to 
the American lines, ezctft a road leading round 
the eaftern end of the hills to Jamaica, 
attention had been given to the importance of 
thefe paffes, To the fecohd of theirij the f 
American parties, pstroilieg en the emails, retired 
upon the approach cf the Britifh boats &ixh th§ 
troops. Lord Cornwallu i on immediately 

with the referve and icme oiner forces y but find- 
ing the Americans in pofitffion of the pafs, in com- 
pliance with orders he vlikci no attack, 

The Americans had on each of the fcj&ree psfies 
or toads a guard of 800 men \ and to ths eaii of 
them in the wood, colon:! Miles was placed with 
his battalion to gtfjrd the roac iwm the fouth of 
the bills te Jamaica, and to watch the motion of 
the enemy on that fide, with orders lo keep a par- 



XC6- iHBfi HISTORY OF [cH» V», 

fy conftantly rcconnoitering to and acrcfs the Ja- 
maica road. The fe:itin«ls t?ere fo placed as to 
keep a continual communication between the three 
guards orr the three roads. 

On the 26th of Auguft, general Howe, having 
fully fettled the plan of furprite, general de Heif- 
ter, with his KeiTians took poft at Flatbufh in the 
evening, and compofcd the centre. About nine 
o'clock tht fame night, the principal army, contain- 
ing much the greater pan of the Britifh forces, un- 
der the command of general Clinton, earl Percy, 
and lord Cenrwallis, marched in order to gsin the 
road leading round the eafierJy end of the hills to 
Jamaica, and fo to turn the left of the Americas. 
Colonel Miles, whofe duty it was to guard this 
iosd } fufurcd the Britifh to march not lefs than fix 
miles* till they were near two miles in the rear of 
the guards, before he discovered and gave notice 
of their approach. 

The next day, before day-break* general Clinton 
arrived within ha 1 f a mile of the road, when he 
halted* and fettled his difpofition for attack. One 
of itis patrols fell in with a patrol of American c ffi- 
ccts on horfebaek, who were trepanned and made 
prisoners. General Sullivan, though in expefta-. 



CK. V.] NORTH AMERICA* I'D? 

tion that they would bring him intelligence, tie- 
gleded finding out a frefh patrol on Ending him* 
jelf difappcinred. Clinton, learning from the cap- 
tured oficers, that the Americans had not occu- 
pied the road, detached V battalion of light infan- 
try to fecuve it, and advancing with his troops up- 
on the firft eppeanuice of d^y 5 pofTbfled hirofclf of 
the heights that commanded the road. 

About midnight, the guard, confiding all of 
New-Yorkers *r;d Pcnnfylvanians, perceivi^ there 
was danger at hsadj ik d without £rie.£ a gun, and 
•carried to general P&xfons, \vho commanded them, 
the sceounr of the cntmys advancing in gn rat 
numbers by that road. Gen. Gram's movements 
v^ere to divert the attention of the Americans from 
the 1 re the main attack was to be made oy 

general Clinton. By day light, general Parfons 
perceived, that the Britifh were got throtsgh the 
V/Ooiiy znd were defeendlng oc the north fide — 
He rook twenty ef his fogitive guard, being all he 
coal 3 colled* and poiied them en a height in front 
of the Britifh, nbout half a mile diftant, which halt- 
ed their column, and gave tinne for lord Stirling 
to come up with his forces, amounting to about 
1500, whs podded biirifdf of a. hill about two 
miles from the camp. . • 



108 



THE 



[CH, V. 



Tl : in foon after day«break, 

by the Heffians from FlatboJh under general lltif- 
ter, and by general Grant ontheccaft; and a 
warm cannonade^ with a briflc fire cf fmall aims, 
were eagerly fc d on both fides for a cormd- 

crabic t;ciie. The Americans oppoGtig general 
Heifter were the 6rft who were apprised of the 
march of the Britifh troops under general Clinrcn. 
Thiiy nccoidingly retreated in large bodies, and in 
tolerable order, to recover their ramp ; but tl 
were hou interrupted by tl ht wing under 

general Clinton, who, having halted and refrefhed 
his forces 'utter palling the heights, continued his 
march, and getting into the rear of the left of the 
Americans, about half paft eight o'clock, attacked 
them with his light infantry ai t dragoon?, 

while quitting the heights to return to their lines. 
They were driven back, and again met the Heffians, 
and thus were they alternately chafed and inter- 
cepted. In thefe defperate circumftances, feme of 
their regiments, overpowered and outnumbered as 
they were, forced their way to the camps through 
al! the dangers with which they werejnefied. 

The Americans under lord Stirling, who were 
engaged with general Grant, behaved with great 
bravery and refoluticii \ but were fo late ia their 



CH. VQ frOH'TH AMERICA, IO9 

knowledge of what pafi>d elfewhere, that their re* 
treat was Intercepted by feme of the Britifh troops, 
who, befides turning the hills and the American 
left, had ttaverfed the whole extent of country in 
their rear. Several broke through the enemy's 
lines and got into the woods, General Parfons, 
with a fmall party, efcaped by doing the fame? 
numbers threw ihemfeives into the mnrih at Gor« 
van's cove, feme were drowned, and others peril- 
ed in the rnud. However a considerable body es- 
caped to the lines. The nature of the country and 
the variety of the ground, occasioned a continu- 
ance and extenfion of fmall engagements, purfuifs 
sad {laughter, which lafled for many hours before 
the fcene ciofed. 

The Brhiili troops difplayed great valor snd ac- 
tivity en this occafion. So impetuous was their 
ardor, that it was with difficulty they cculd be re- 
{trained, by general KoweVorders, from attacking 
the American lines. They would prcb^biy have 
entered them, had not the works been comoleted 
the night before the action, by ciofihg an rpemng 
en the right, and placing an abbsttis before it, 
The Americans were rnofl completely furprized 
and effectually entrapped. Colonel Smallwedifs 
K 



110 THE HISTORY OF [CH. Vt 

Maryland regiment fufFered extremely, and was 
alrnoft cut to pieces, loGng 259 men. The lofs 
was much regretted, an account of their beir.g 
young men of the beft families in the country, All 
who were engaged in the anions of this day did 
not difplay the fame courage •, nor was it to be ex- 
pe&ed from fuch raw troops. Many efcaped from 
the want of difcipline ', for they broke at the fight 
of danger ?-!id faved tbsmfdves by flight, whereas 
otherwife they muft have been killed or taken.— 
Large bodies however were captured. Gen. Sulji* 
van, lord Stirling, and general Udell, befides three 
colonel?, three majors, eighteen captains, forty- 
three lieutenants, eleven enfigns, an adjutant, three 
furgeons, and two volunteers, were made prifon* 
crs, together with 1006 privates, m all 1097. As 
among the prifoners the wounded, were included, 
an allowance of between four and five hundred for 
kilted, drowned, perifned in the woods, the mud 
and the like, may be reckoned about the mark.— 
The lofs of the Britlfh, in killed and wounded, did 
not exceed three hundred and eighteen, of whom 
.only fixty-one were killed. After the battle, the 
Americans retreated to New* York;, to which place 
they crGfied over under the favor of a fog, taking 
with them aU their military ftorcs-and leaving bo- 



CH. VI.3 NORTH AMERICA. Ill 

thing behind them but a few pieces of cannon and 
fome trifling matters. 

Memorable Events recorded ik this Chap- 
ter* 

General Howe evacuates Bolton, A. D. 177a 

Norfolk' in Virginia burnt, - - do. 

Sir Peter Parker and Earl Cornwallis fail for 

America. ------ do, 

The blockade of Quebec continued, do. 

The Americans raife the blockade, and re- 
treat, - -j - - - do, 

A number of Highlanders taken in Bolton 

Bay, ^ - - « do. 

Declaration of American Independence, do. 

General Howe lands the royal army on Long 

Ifland, and drives the Americans off it, do, 



CH AFTER VI. 

AFTER the affair of Long Ifland. endeavor? 
were ufed by the Americans to keep up the fpirits 
of the people, by puffing accounts of the exwao*- 



% I.IST.OZIY O? ["CH t VI. 

dinziy bravery of their troops, and the deftruaion 
they made of the enemy. But that matters were 
: very promifing appears from a letter of gener- 
leKer, who commanded the flying camp, da* 
t^a September 4th, wherein he writes : "Gen, 
IValJungtofl has riof, fo far as I have feen, five 
thoafand men to be depended on for the fervice 
..: a campaign j and I have not one thoufend. 
[fa our armies are competed of raw militia, per- 
petualJy fluctuating between the camp and their 
farms, pcoily aQ&pd and (till wcrfe difciplincd. 
sfe are not a match far, were their numbers 
Exal to, veteran noops, wejl fitted and urged on 
able officers. Numbers and difcipline mutt 
at lift prevail. Giving foldiers, or even the low- 
er orders of mankind, the choice of officers will 
fo^ei ;;;,i the difcipline of armies." 

Gen. Howe, having fully prepared for a defcent? 
New-York ifland, embarked a flrong divifipa 
the army under the command of gen. Clinton 
and others, in boats at the head of Newtown in- 
let, and at another place higher up, where they 
could KOt be obferved by the Americans who ex- 
peeled the attack would be made on the fide next 
to the Eaft*river, and had therefore thrown up 
Lines and works to defend themfelves. 






<f^,Vlf] NORTH AMERICA. ITJ 

On the 15-th of September, about eleven o'clock* 
Gen. HoWs troops landed, under the cover of 
five (hips of war, in two divifions, the Hcflims in 
one place and the Bririfh in another. As foon as 
Gen. Wa&ington heard the firing of the men of 
war, he rode with all difpatch towards the lines j 
but to his great mortification, found the troops 
pofted in them retreating with the utmoft precipi- 
tation— and thofe ordered to fupport them, Par- 
fon's and Fellows' Brigade, flying in every direc- 
tion, and in the greateft ccnfuSos. His attempts 
to flop them were fruitkfs, though he drew his 
fword, threatened to run them through, and cock- 
ed and fnapped his piilols, 

On the appearance of a fmall party of the ene- 
my, not more than ilxty or feventy, their diforder 
was encreafed, and they ran off without firing a 
{ingle {hot, leaving the general in a hazardous fit- 
nation, fo that his attendants to extricate him out 
ct It, caught the bridle of his horfe, and gave him 
a different dire&ion. 

Three large fhlps were Rationed in the North 
Tivsr, oppofne to thofe on the eaft river, and both 
kept up a eonitant cannonading with grape-fhot 
and langr^ge qmte aciofs the ifland. The Hcffuna 
K 2 1 



J 14 THE HISTORY OF [CH. VI. 

upon their landing, feized and fecured, in a neigh- 
boring building, as enemies, fome perfons who 
had been placed there to ferve as guides, which 
for a while fubjetied them to a difficulty. 

"When the regulars were completely landed, 
they advanced towards the Kingfbridge road. The 
American brigades, which had fled on the enemy's 
approaching the lines, did not (top till they were 
met by col. Glover's and five other brigades, who 
were haftening down to them. As foon as they 
joined, the whole marched forward, and tock peft 
on fome heights, when fuddenly 8000 of the ene- 
my appeared on the next height, and halted. Gen, 
Wafhington at firit confented that his troops fhould 
march forward, and give them battla \ but, on a 
fecond confederation, he gave counter orders, as 
he could not have any dependence on the militia 
and the flying camp, which cempofed half the 
number then prefent. When the Americans re- 
tired and no prefpec?: of action remained, the Eng- 
K& :cok poi^fiion of New-York. 

Gen. Wafhington^ while moving the army from 
New- York into the country, was careful to march 
*nd form the troops io as to make a fro::: towards 
ihe enemy itr i\ Z:^i CheijLfjr almjcli to Vthiiz 






C1I. VI.^ NORTH AMERICA, M * 

Plains, on the eaft fide of the highway, thereby to 
[ fecure the march cf ihofewho were behind on their 
right and to defend the removal of the Gck, cannon 
and other matters of confequence 5 but the want 
of many neceflary articles considerably retarded . 
their march. 

On the 25th of Oftober, the royal army moved 
in two columns, and took a pofition they thought 
the moft advantageous* On the 28th an a&ion 
tookplace between the contending forces, at White 
Plains, and though not a general engagement, both 
parties met with considerable lofs. The Ameri- 
cans fuftained the various attacks tskzd-z on their 
lines with becoming firmnefs, 

On the laft day of October, General Howe, be- 
ing joined by the troops from Lord Pejrey, made 
difpofmons for attacking the American lines ear'/ 
the next morning ; but an extreme wet night and 
morning prevented the execution at the time ap- 
pointed, and it was not attempted afterwards, 
though the day proved fair. Gen. Wa&iogton 
gained intelligence of his danger from a defciter, 
when he ditw off moft of his troops at uight, to- 
tally evacuated his camp early in the morning of 
the fir It of November^and took higher ground to- 
wards the North Caftle diftiici 5 leaving 2 ftrong 



Il6 THE HISTORY OF [ch. VI. 

rear guerdon the heights and in the woods of 
Whit* Plains. Orders were given by Gen. Howe 
to attack this corps ; but the execution of it was 
prevented by a violent r^ 

Though the affair at White Plains made fo 
jnuch noife at the time in which it happened, the 
Americans foon after retreated, leaving the Eng- 
lifh in porTefiicn of New*York and the Jerfeyg* 
Gen. Lee is uksn prilbner, and carried to New- 
York. 

December 26, Gen. Washington mr.de a defcent 
on Jerfey, and at Trenton, furprifed and took prif- 
oners 23 Htffian officer.?, and 886 men. In the 
evening he repaffed the Delaware with his prif« 

oners, 

From this period to the month of Jun«, 1777, 
nothing pa/Ted in Jerfeybut one continued fcene of 
blood and Daughter among detached parties, with- 
out any decifive advantages being gained by either 
fide. On the 30th of June, at ten o'clock in the 
morning, the EngJi{h % began to crefs over to Statea 
Ifland, and the rear guard paired at two in the af- 
ternoon, without the leaft appearance of an encn y. 
Thus they evacuated tht Jcrfefi) to enter or 1 
newconquefU, in hopes of reducing tbo Ui.,..i 
States, to unconditional fubmiffion. 



CH. VI.] NORTH AMERICA. Hj 

Let us now turn to the Britifh operations in the 
North, which were taken cut of the hands of Sir 
Guy Carkton, and committed to the charge of 
Gen. Burgoyue. The forces allotted to them, 
confiding cf Britifh and German troop*, amount- 
ed to more than 7000 men, exclufive of the artille- 
ry corps. A powerful train of brafs- artillery was 
furnifhed, probably the fineft, and the mod excel-* 
lently fupplied, as to officers and private men, that 
had ever been deftlned to feccnd the operations of 
an army not exceeding she prefect number. The 
army was,, in e?ery reipe£i 3 in the belt condition | 
the troops were in the bight ft fpuits; admirably 
disciplined, and uncommonly healthy. 

The main body under Gen. Burgoyne proceeded 
up lake Champlain, landed and encamptd at no 
great difUnce from Crown Point, where he met 
the Indians in congxefs, and afterwards, in com- 
pliance with their cuftoms, gave them a war fealu 
lie made a fpeech to them, calculated to excite 
their ardor in the common caufe and at the fame 
time to reprefs their barbarity. He conjured them 
to kill thofe only ^vho oppofed them in arms | 
that eld men, wemen, children and prifeners, 
ihould be held facrsd from the kiufs cr hatchet, 
even in the heat of actual confiitx \ that thty 



11$ THE HISTORY OF [CH, vr. 

fhould fcalp thofe only whom they had flain in fair 
oppofition ; but that under no pretence (hould they 
fca)p the wounded, or even dying, much lefs kill 
perfons in that condition:: they were promifed a 
cempenfation fot prifoners, but informed that I 
fliouid be called to account for fcalps. 

On the near approach cf the Tight wing of the 
I army en the Ticorcercga fide, the Ameri- 
cans abandoned their works towards Lake George, 
and left Gen. Phillips tc the advantageous 

poft of Mount Hope, without making any i 
ance, which would hare been iuefife&ua], and 
could have anfwered no gocd putpofe. That ap- 
parent fupinenefs r.nd want of vigor, with which 
they were chargeable, was not qccafioned by cow- 
ardice, but actual imbeciiity. 

Gen. Burgoync's troops proceeded with much 
expedition, in the construction of their works, the 
bringing up of artillery, fiorcs zr>d provifions •, but 
what gave the gieattft alarm, was$ the rapid prc-g- 
yefs they made in clearing a road, and getting ar- 
tillery on Sugar Hill. When once they had erefit- 
ed a battery on this height, only a few hours n.cre 
wo«ld have been required to have inveftetl the 
Americans on all fides. 



CJI. VI.] NORTH AMlpapJU II9 

Gen. Si. Ciair having received intelligence by 
fpics, that in twenty-four Lours >he invciture 
would be completed, when he {hould be cut off 
from all poffibiKty of fuccor, Gen. Schuyler, not 
baring force fuincient at Fort Edward to relieve 
him, he determined to evacuate his polls, though 
he knew it would produce fuel] aftonifbment as 
had not happened (Inee the commencement of the 
war. He plainly perceived, that if he continued 
there* he (hould lofe the army, but fave his char- 
acter; whereas, by abandoning the place, he 
fcouid fave the army and lofe his character. A 
council of war was called, and it was unanimoufiy 
concluded upon to evacuate as foon as poflible. 

At two o'clock in the morning cf July the 6th, 
Gfen. St. Clair left Ticondercga. About three, 
the troops were put in motion for the evacuation 
of the Mount ; but Permtoy having fet fire to his 
houfe, contrary to pofitive orders* the whole Mount 
was enlightened by fr, fd that the enemy had aa 
opportunity cf (being every thing that paSed; 
which damped the fplrits of the Americans, and 
induced them ro pufli elfin a dilbrdcrly manner. 

In the morning, gent Frazer, perceiving the 
evacuation, and that the Americans were retiring, 

commenced a purfult with his brigade confiding of 



120 THE HISTORY OF [CH. VI.' 

the iight troops, grenadiers, arid feme other corps. 
Gen. Reidefd, with moil of his Brunfwickers, 
was ordered by Gen. Buigoyne in the pur- 

suit either to feppert F.^zrr, cr to vGk (eparsrcly. 
Th*t latter continued the purfuit through the dtjr, 
and receiving intelligence, that Si. Clair's rear was 
at no great distance, he ordered his troops to lie 
that night on thcit arms. In the morning he came 
up with (he Americans, commanded by col. War- 
ner, **ho had, befides his own, the regiments of 
colonels Francis and Hale. The Britlfh advanced 
boldly, and the two bodies formed within about 60 
yards of each ether. Frazer began the attack 
about 7 o'clock, expecting every moment to be 
joined by Reideftl, and apprehending! that if he 
delayed, the enemy would efcape. Hale being ap- 
prized of the danger never brought bis regiment 
to the charge but fled \ fo that Warner could 
bring into aftion no more than about 700 men. 
The conflict wis bloody ; Francis fell fighting with 
great bravery, and Warner, his officers and fol- 
diers* behaved with much refolution and gallant- 
ry ; to that the Britifh broke and gave way, but 
(ban formed agaio, and running on the Americans 
truth their bayonets, the latter were put into vo 
fmall confuSon, which was iscresfed by the cri; ; - 



ClI. VI.] NORTH AMERICA. 12? 

cal arrival of gen. Reidefel with the forenicft -of 
his column, conftfting of the chsfleur i 
and eighty grenadiers and light infantry, ^ 
Immediately kd into . s Americans now 

fled on all fides. Gen. St. Cialr hr 
firing began, and wouid have fuppotled Warner, 
but the troops that were neareft two mill ia regi- 
ments, ^cuSd not obey cmters; and the others - 

st too great a diftance. Hale, v*ho had! i 

■ 
to get off by flight, fell in with an inco 

party of Britifh, and furrendered and 2 

number of his men ptifoners. Tfis leans 

loft 324 in killed, wounded and prifoners 3 and 

among the laft were 12 officers. > The royal troops 

including Smith and German, bad not kfs than 

183 kilhd and wounded. 

The evacuation of Ticonderoga 2nd Mount In- 
dependence, furprifed general Wafliingtpry and 
fpread aitonifhment and terror through the Ncw« 
England Hates. The gener:] was kd to believe 
that the garrifon was much ftronger. TJ11 

general couvf were faulty, in not having 
feafenably for wr q p§, ag£$€* 

sb!e to the risquifiiion p] efs. 

Let us now return to fee vrfisft 
genera! Koive. The Bfihifll fleet kxid afrfi 



122 THE HISTORY OF [CH. VI. 

lay at Sandy hook, were deftined for the reduction 
of Philadelphia, in purfuance of a plan which had 
been fettled between fir William Howe and lord 
George Germain, but did not fail till the 23d of 
July. The hnd forces confided of thirty-fix lirit- 
ifh and Median battalions, including the light in- 
fantry and grenadiers, with a powerful artillery, a 
New- York corps, celled Queen's Rangers, and a 
regiment of light horfe, eftimated all together at 
about 16,000 men. The fleet confided of 267 
fail. Gen. Howe's thus abandoning Burgoyne, 
equally excited the aftonifhment of friends and en- 
emies. 

On the 14th of June, the congrefs refolved that 
the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen 
ftripes, alternate red and white ; that the union 
be thirteen ftars, white in a blue field, reprefenting 
a new conftellaticn. 

It was not till the third of September that the 
royal army began to move forward. On its advan- 
cing near to the Americans, thefe abandoned their 
ground, perceiving that it would not anfwer their 
fiift expectation. They crofied Brandywine at 
Chai't ford, and took poffeffion of the heights on 
the eaft fide of it, with an evident iateatioa of 






OH. VI.] NORTH AMERICA. 123 

difputing the paflage of the river ; but the fuperi- 
or numbers of ihe regular forces at laft, obliged 
them to retire* 

A little after funrife on the nth of September, 
a warm engagement commenced, which lafted till 
the approach of night. On this oceafion, the 
Americans (hewed great refolution and courage •, 
but a few hours more of day light mighi have fo 
animated the conquerors, notwithstanding their 
fatigue, as to have occafjonedthofe exertions which 
would have produced a total and ruinous defeat to 
the Americans. It was faid by the Americans 
themfdves, that in this a£Uon, their lofs in killed, 
wounded and pt ifoners, was about twelve or thir- 
teen hundred ; and that the royal army did not 
fuffer on their par?, fhort of feven or eight hun- 
dred in killed and wounded. The Americans al- 
io loft ten final! field pieces, and howitzer, of which 
all but one were brafs. 

The evening after the battle, a party of regulars 
was fent to Wilmington, who took the governor 
of the Delaware ftaie, Mr. M'Kinley, out of his 
bed, and poffeiTcd themfelves of a fhallop lying in 
the creek, loaded with the rich effects of fome of 
ihz inhabitants, together with the public records of 
the county, and a large quantity of public andpri- 



3 24 *HE HISTORY OJ 

vate .money, bsSJes sr::cies of plate stid other 
things. 

After variou * royal army, en the 

jfiftti of 5^pt^rr»ber ? genera! Howe made his trium- 
- 

? y recefcred by 

genera; ' . :r roy- 

: bis tree E . left in and 

::vn > a village F one ccntin- 

ii iiy was .: ic , abc ut 

eigl lior\ thence. :. r s oa 

Inc lofa J to Yorktown. 

To return fc n ajri$yj under the com- 

iti&ftd of geaer-. ynf. Several a£Ions toe;; 

! -en the Americans a ^ In the 

&nd-ed march cf the Albany, — 

In thele different iki?mlfhe5, the rcg$lurp luffed 
vn7 coniiderabiy, ss well as the Indians in their 
I&tereft. The principal action happened at Ben* 
nihgton, in which the Americans took from the 
Erigiilfa 4 brafs field pieces^ twelve drums, 250 
dragoon fwords, 4 ammunition 'waggons* 2nd 
about 700 prifeners, among whom was Kratensnt- 
colonel Baura. 



CH> VI.] NORTH AMERICA. 12 j 

On the 36th of Auguft, the Englhn commander 
had occafion to write to general Gates, and In his 
letter complained of inhumanity exercifed towards 
the provincial foldicrs in the king's fervice, after 
the affair of Bennington, and then hinted at retal- 
iation. Gen. Gates, in his anfwer of Sept. the 
2d, invalidated the charge, and then retorted the 
Indian cruelties* which he imputed to Burgo^ne, 
faying, " Mifs RTRea, a young lady, lovely to the 
fight, of virtuous charafber and amiable difpcfition, 
engaged to an officer in your army, was, with other 
women and children, taken out of a houfe near 
Fort Edward, carried into the woods, and there 
murdered and mangled in a moil {hocking man~ 
ner. Two parents, with their fix children, were 
all fcalped and treated with the fame inhumanity, 
while quietly refiding* in their once happy and 
peaceful dwellings. The mlferable fate of Mifs 
M'Rea was particularly aggravated, by her being 
drefled to receive her promifed huiband, when fhe 
met her murderer employed by you. Upwards of 
one hundred men, women and children, have per- 
iihed by the hands of the Ruffians, to whom it is 
afierted, you have ps!d the price of blood." Geia,. 
Burgoyne, in his reply of the 6th of the fame. 
months vindicated his own character 5 fhe wed that 
L % 



lib the histoPvY c? [ch. vr. 

Mifs M'Rea's death was no premeditated barbari- 
ty, ard declared that every other charge exhibited 
by general Gates, was illfounded and erroneoue. 

The murder of Mifs M'Rea exafperated thz 
Americans, and from that and other cruelties oc- 
cafion was taken to blacken the royal party and ar- 
my. The people detelied that army which accept- 
ed of fuch Indian aid, and loudly reprobated that 
government which could call in fuch auxiliaries. 
General Gates was not deficient in aggravating, 
by feveral publications, the exceffes that had taken 
place, and with no fmal! advantage to his own mfe* 
itary operations. 

On the 1 8th of September, general Burgoyne, 
irig been very ?hovt of prcvifions. at length re- 
ceived a fupply for about thirty days, together with 
othtr rieceffary ftores* He then refolved upon pas- 
the Sudfon's riV^r with the army, which hav- 
ing executed, he encamped on the heights and en 
the plains of Saratoga. ' The Americans, obferving 
flic motions of the royal army, marched out 3000 
>ngi in orkr to attack him, but found that to 
be pruderftji'Iy impracticable. However, they 
drew up in full view of him, aiid there remained 
• : dark, 



€H. VI. j NORTH AMERICA, 12*7 

The next day fame-, of the American fcouting. 
parties fell in with thofe of the BritiQi, and wills 
great boldnefs began the attack about out o'clock 
at noon. The firing was do (boner heard by gen- 
eral Phillips, than he made his way with a j>att of 
the artillery, through the woods, and rendered ef- 
fential fsrviees. Each commander fupported, re- 
inforced, and ordered -different regiments to en- 
gage. The battle was hot and obftinate on both 
fides, till about half paft two o'clock, when it ceaf- 
ed for half an hour. The American and Efitiflv 
Jines being fully formed, the action was renewed, 
and became general at three. Both armies appear- 
ed determined- to conquer or die, and there was 
one continual blase of fire for three hours without 
intermiCioa.;. the report of the mufkets refembled 
an inceffant rolhbeating. on a number of drums, 
The Americans and Britilh alternately drove and 
were driven by each other. Three Britifli regi*. 
ments, the 20th, the 21 d, and the 6ad, were in a" 
conftant and clofe fire for near four hours. All 
fuffered confiderable loft : the 6zd, which was 
500 (hong when It left Canada^ was now reduced 
to lefs than 60 men, and to four or five officers. 
Few aflions have been chara&erifed, by more ob- 
ftinacy in attack or defence, than was the prefent* 



128 THE HISTORY OP [ch, VI. 

Both parties claimed the victory, though neither 
had much advantage to boaft of. 

From this time till near the middle of October^ 
battles and fkirmifhes continually took place be- 
tween the two armies and the Britifh were fadly 
reduced and weakened. On the 13th, general 
Burgoyne, finding that the troops had only three 
days provifions in (lore on fhort allowance, and no 
apparent means of retreat remaining, called into 
council all the generals, field officers, and captains 
commanding troops. There \va9 not a fpot of 
ground in the whole camp for holding the council 
of war, but what was expofed to cannon or rif-e 
{hot 1 and while the council was deliberating, aa- 
eighteen pound bail croiTed the table. By the 
unanimous advice of the council, the general was- 
bduced to open a treaty with general Gates. The 
fi*ft propofalsof the latter were rejected, and the 
Exib article with difdain, where it was required 
: the Britifh army Ihould lay down their arms 
in their entrenchments. Burgcyr>e"£ counter pro. 
polVis were unanimoufly approved, asd being fcat 
to Gates were agTeed to, on the 15th, without any 
material alteration. 

General Gates being fearful of theconfequesces / 
Efeat might follow, fcouki general Vaughn whh 



CH> VI '] NORTH AMERICA, 129 

his troops come up in time to Burgoyne's p.Hi3> 
ance, determined upon bringing the matter to an 
immediate iflue. On the rooming cf the 17th, he 
got every thing in readinefs for stacking the royai 
axmv. This done he took cut his watch, the 
hint agreed for figning being come. He then 
fent colonel Greaton on horfeback to Burgoyne 
with a meflags requiring the general to fign, and 
allowed him no more than ten minuses to go and 
return. He \v%s back In time, fbc treaty was 
figned, all feoftile a ufea ceaied, and the 

Americans marched into the Brii|ft? lines to the 
tune cf Yankee doodle. They ^'ere kept th€?e 
until the royal army had marched out of their 
lines, and deposited their arms at the place appoint^ 
ed by ihe treaty. 

The delicacy viiin which this buuneis was con- 
dd£led reflects the higheft honor upon the Amer- 
ican general. It intimated that he was feniible of 
the mortification attending a iieverfe" of fortune, 
and that he was unwilling £<£ aggravate the -pain-- 
ful feelings of the royal troops* by adcr>i£:ing the 
American fcldlsrs to he -eye vitnciies Co the degra- 
ding fpectacle of pllir- their arms. When the 
arms were depoSted agreeable to treaty, the royal 
itoepa were ferv§d wilh bread by the Americans* 



I3O *HE HISTORY OF [cil. VI. 

as they had not any left, or flour to make it. They 
had only one day'* fait meat lemaining. 

The treaty was ftyled, " A convention between 
lieutenant-genqiaJ Burgoyne and m?j$r-general 
Gales " Aiiion^ other articles it was flij.ulated, 
" Thai ',<» r.o-ps upder lieu tenant- general Bur- 
gr>yne ih ,11 march out of their camp with the hon- 
ors en war* anu the ariilieiy of tbe entrenthmer/s, 
to the verge of the river, where the arms and ar- 
tillery are to be left* The arms to be piled by 
word of command from their own officers. A 
free paiTage to be granted to the royal army to 
Great-Britain, upon condition of not ferving again 
in North America during the prefent conteft ; and 
the port of Boflon to be affigned for the entry of 
tranfports to receive the troops, whenever generaF 
Howe fhall fo order. The officers' baggage not to 
be -mole fted or fearehed. Buiing the ftay of the 
troops in the Maflachufetts bay, the officers are to 
be admitted on parole, and to be allowed to wear 
their fide-arm§." 

The return ffgned by general Burgoyne, at the 
lime of the convention, made the Britife army ir> 
cludirg Germans* amount to 5791, which was 
irery fhort of the number they had on fetting eat 



CH. VI.J NORTH AMERICA, 13! 

from Canada. The train of brafs artillery, cap.fifl* 
ing of 42 pieces, was a fin*? ncquifition to the 
Americans. There were al£ 4647 rnufkets, 6000 
dozen of cartridges,beGdes{lK)v,carcafes, (hells, &c. 

Had Clinton advanced in iime, Burgoyne would 
have been fa^ed 5 but the troops he difpatched un- 
der general Vaughan arnufed themfelvei with burn- 
ing Efopus, a fine village on the North river below 
Catfkill. General Vaughan with a flood tide, 
might have reached Albany, in four hours, as there 
was no force to hinder him. Had he proc§eded 
thither, and burnt the (lores, Gates, as he him- 
felf afterwards declared, mud have retreated into 
New-England, 

Memorable Events recorded in this Chap- 
ter. 

Wretched date of the armies under the gen- 
erals Walhington and Gate^ - A. D. 1 776. 

New- York taken by the royal forces, - do. 

The battle of the White Plains, - - do* 

A body of Hefilans defeated at Trenton, - do. 

General Howe embarks his army from Sta- 
ten Ifiand, - * A. D. 1777. 

General Burgoyne proceeds to Crown Point, do. 



I?2 THE KISTOY OF [CH. VII. 

Ticcnderoga ?.nA Mount Independence evac- 
uated, ------ 1777 

Flag of the United States defcribed, - do. 

Battle ec the Brandywine, - do. 

Account of Mifs MPRea'* death, - do. 

Americans engage the Britifa under genera! 

Burgoyne, ----- do. 

Diftrefs and calamity of the voyal army, - do. 

Genera! Burgoyne bafried in all his defigns, do. 

Signs a convention for the furrender of his 

army, ------ do. 

Efopus burnt by the troops under general 

Vcughan, - do. 



CHAPTER VII. 

TOWARDS the end of Odober, 1777, th- 
army under the command of Sir Wi 
Hawf f removed to Philadelphia; I "e? being 

concerted between the general and adr-ural for 
clearing the Ifeta -.re cf its obR' t for- 

mer ordered batteries to he erected on Trerm 

or Pennsylvania (here, to affid in dillod^iug ths 



CH. VII.] NORTH AMERICA. I33 

Americans from Mud-Ifland. He alfo detached a 
ftrong body of Heffians acrofs the river, who were 
to reduce the fcrt at Redbank, while me ihips and 
batteries on the other fide were to attack Mud- 
Ifland. Count Donop, in 'the fervice of the Eg- 
lifh,was intruded with the expedition ag^inft Red- 
bank, but he failed in the attempt He was mor- 
tally wounded and taken prifoner, feveral of his 
bed officers were killed ordifabled, and the Hef- 
Cans, after a defperate engagement, were repulfed, 
The fecond in command being alfo dangeroufiy 
wounded, the detachment was brought off by lieu- 
tenant«colonel Liofing. It is faid that the royal 
detachment loft, on this occafion, between four 
and five hundred men. 

The expedition againft Mud-Ifland met with 
better fuecefs, the Americans being driven from 
thence, and forced to retire to Redbank. 

On the night- of the 18th of November, Lord 
Cornwallis marched w ? ith a confiderable force, and 
the next day crofftd the Delaware, io his way 10 
Redbank, which the Americans abandonee, leav- 
ing behind them the artillery and a confiderable 
quantity of cannon ball. The Englifii generals 
confeSed, that the long and unexpected oppofition 
they received from Redbank and Mud-Iflaiid, broke 
M 



134 THE HISTORY OF [CH. VII, 

in upon their plans for the remainder of the cam- 
paign. 

Sunday May 3d, 177S, Mr. Simeon Dcane, 
brother to Silas Deane arrived exprefs from France, 
with very important difpatches. The congreft 
immediately convened, and the difpat.hes opened 
and read, a,mong which to their inexpre: 
v;ere a treaty cf commerce and a treaty of alliance, 

;r; his moft Christian Majeft; 
King of France and the United States of Amc 

the next daj were duly weighed and 
ccnGdered ftparately, and upon each it was unan- 
imoafly refolved, " That the fame be and is here- 
by ratified." The next refolution was " That this 
congrefa entertain the higheft fenfe of the magna- 
nimity and wifdom of his moll ChriRian m 
fo ftrongly exemplified in the treaty of amity and 
commerce, and the treaty of alliance ; and the 
commiSioners reprefenting thefe ftates, at the court 
ef France, are diredled to prefent the grateful ac- 
knowledgments cf this congrefs to his nvoft Chrif- 
tian majefty, for his truly magnanimous conduct 
refpe&ing thefe ftates, in the laid generous 
difintereiled treaties, and to affure his rmjefty, oh 
the part of this congrefs, it is fincereiy wilhed, that 



CH. VII.l NORTH ANiERICA. I35 

the friendship, fo happily commenced between 
France and thcfs United States may be perpetual," 

The ccngrefs, after receiving the treaties, had a 
fhonger feeling of their own importance than be- 
fore, and refoived, « That the cornaiiiTioners ap- 
pointed for the courts of Spain, Tufcany, Vienna, 
and Berlin, (hould live in fuch (lyle and manner at 
their refpeclive courts, as they may find fuitable 
and necefiary to fupgort the dignity of their public 
character.** 

On the fifth of May, they agreed to a draught of 
"An addicts to the inhabitants of the United 
States of America." In this publication, • 
they come to the French treaty, they fay, Ci You 
hare ffill to expect one fevere conflict. Your for- 
eign alliances though they fecure your independ- 
ence, cannot fecure your country from defo!atien r 
inhabitants from plund-r, your wives from 
It or violation, r or ycur children from butche- 
ry. Foiled in the principal defign, you muft ex- 
to feel the rage of disappointed ambition. — 
: then, to your tents, and gird you for battle ! 
to tarn the headlong current of vengeance 
the head of iht ^eRrcyer. They have filled 
ie meafure of their abominations, and like ripe 
fruit ciultfoon drop from the tree, Although 



Ig6 THE HISTORY OF [CH, VII. 

much is done, yet much remains to do. Expe£\ 
not peace, while any corner of America is in the 
pofleffion of your foes. You muft drlvz them 
away from this land of Promife, a land flowing in- 
deed . i ;h milk and honey. Your brethren at the 
extremities of the continent already implore your 
friendship and pretention. It is your duty to 
grant their requeft. They hunger and third after 
liberty. Be it yours to difpenfe to them the heav- 
ifr. And what is there now to prevent it i n 

In the month of May the American frigate Ran- 
dolph, of 36 guns, and 305 men, failed on a cruife 
frorn Charleftown. The Yarmouth, of 64 gun?, 
difcovered her and five other vefieis, and came up 
with her in the evening. Capt. Vincent hailed the 
Randolph to hoift colours, or he would fire into 
her \ on which (he hoiftcd American, and immedi- 
ately gave the Yarmouth her broadfide, which was 
returned, .and in about a quarter of an hour fhe 
blew up. Four men faved themfflves upon a 
piece of her wreck, and fubfifted for five days up- 
on nothing more than rain water which they fuck- 
ed from a piece of blanket they had picked up.— 
On the fifth, the Yarmouth being in chafe of a 
{hip, happily difcovered them waving. The cap- 
tain humanely fufpended the chafe, hauled up to 



«f. VII. J NORTH AMERICA. I37 

the wreck,' got a boat out and brought them on 
board. 

On the 7th of May, the fecond battalion of Brit- 
ifh light infantry, in flat boats, attended by three 
gallies and other armed boats, proceeded up ths 
Delaware, in order to deftroy all the American 
fhips and veffels lying in the river between Phila- 
delphia and Trenton, They landed ihe next morn- 
ing, advanced towards Bordentown, drove the 
•AWericans that cppofed them, entered the town 
and &urnt four fiore houfes containing provifions, 
toba£co ; fame milicary ftores and camp equipage, 
The country being alarmed and a ftrong body col- 
le£led, the battalion croffbd to the Pennfylvania 
fhore. The next day they refumed their opera- 
tions, and at funfet embarked and returned to 
Philadelphia, While upon the expedition, they 
burnt two frigates, one of 32, the other of 38 guns; 
nine large fhips, three privateer (loops of 16 guns 
each, three of ten guns,: twenty-three brigs, with 
a number of Hoops and fchooners. Two of the 
fhips were loaded with Tobacco, Rum, and mili- 
tary ftores. 

General Howe was fucceeded in the command 
of the army by Sir Henry Clinton, who arrived at 
Philadelphia on the eighth of May, 
M a 



I3S THE HISTORY OF [CH, VII, 

On the fixth of February the treaties between 
France and the United States were Cgned. The 
alliance between thefe two powers was known to 
the Eritifn miniftry fpon titer they were G| 
IJr. Fox, in a deba:e in the houfe of comir.o r ;5 
five days afterwards 1 aflerted, that the number of 
men loft to the army, in killed, difabled, deferted 
and from various other caufes, from the com- 
mencement of hoftiiities with America to that pe- 
rioj, amounted to above twenty thcufand. 

On the 27th, Lord Norih introduced his concil- 
iatory propositions. His plan was to enable the 
crown to appoint commiflioners to treat with the 

nifts concerning the means of putting an 
to thefe unhappy contefts ; for which five perfonj 
wcce inverted with ample powers. His lordfhip 
faid in his fpeech, that general Howe had, in the 
late rclions, and in the whole courfe of the cam- 
paigiij not only in goodcefa of troops, and in all 
pnanaer of fupplies, but alfo m point of numbers, 
been much fuperior to the American army that op- 
him in the field •, that Gen. Burgoyne had, 
uitti] ths afTcir at Bennirg^on, been in numbers, 
nearly twice as firong as the army of the enemy, 
he promifad a great army fhouid be fent cut/ 



CH.VirJ NORTH AMERICA. IJ.J 

and that a great army had accordingly been fent 
oat, to the amount of 60,000 men and upwards. 

The fpeedi was long, able and eloquent, and 
kept him up two full hours. It was heard with 
profound attention, but without a Gngl.e mark of 
approbation. A dull melancholy Alence for feme 
time fucceeded, Aftonifhment, deje£lion and fear, 
overclouded the whole affbmbly. It was conjc&u- 
red that fome powerful motive had induced minif- 
try to adopt fuch an alteration of rneafures. This 
idea was confirmed by the pofitive afTertion of Mr. 
Fox, that a treaty had been figned at Paris between 
the colonies and France, by which fiic recognized 
their independence. 

On the 13th of March, the French ambaifadct 
delivered a refcript to Lord Weymouth, in which 
he informed the court of London, that the king 
had figned a tr^zty of friendihip and commerce 
vilth the United States of America. The knowl- 
edge of this transaction was communicated under 
the parade of cultivating the good understanding 
between France and Great-Britain. 

On the 21ft of March, a public audience and 
reception were given to the American com mi don- 
ers; Meffrs. Franklin, Dcane and Lee, by the 



• 14-0. TJTE HISTORY CF [ciI,VT?. 

French monarch. They were introduced by Mors. 
Vergcnnes, 2nd received by the king with the ufu 1 
formalities and ceremonies. This (hiking ac- 
knowledgment of the plenipotentiaries from the 
United States, mortified the minifhy and ctown o£ 
Great-Britain, and may be pionounced the politi- 
cal phenomenon of Europe. The day before it 
was exhibited, the French ambdfla ^or, in confe- 
quence of orders to quit London, fet out for Pari*, 

From this time, the courts of London and Ver- 
failles were bufied in fitting out their fleets, which 
met each other in the month of July. The Eng- 
li(h fleet was commanded by the admirals Keppel, 
Pallifer and Harland. But as the 2cTion of that 
I day is amply related in our hiftory of England, we 
(hall not introduce in thefo annals of America, an 
account of fo foul a tarnifh to the Briciih flag. 

In the beginning of June, the Trident, Britifh 
man of war arrived in the Delaware, with the 
Earl cf Carlifle, Mr. Eden and governor Johnflone, 
three of the commifiioners for refloiing peace be* 
tween Great-Britain and America. 

On the 1 8th of June, at three o'clock in the 
morning, the Britihh evacuated Philadelphia, M*. 
Eden having brought with him fcuti bllructions 



CXI. VII.] SOUTH AMERICA. f 4 1 

frotn England for that purpofe. They proceeded 
to Gloacefter point, three miles down the river, 
and before ten the whole had paffbdin fsfety acrcfa 
the Delaware into New-jerfey. 

When intelligence of Sir Henry Clinton's hav- 
ing evacuated Philadelphia reached the American 
head-quarters, general Wafhingtoq took his meat* 
ures accordingly. Several fkirmiihes happened 
between the Americans and the regulars with va- 
rious fuccefs, till on the 30th cf Jane the royal sr- 
inj 'arrived ia the neighborhood of Sandy Hock. 
During the courfe of the march from Philadelphia, 
the royal army was much reduced ; upwards of 
800 having defence, a great number of whom were. 
Hefiians. 

On the 5th cf July, the army pa/Ted over a 
bridge of boars acrofe a narrow channel to San if 
Hook and were afterwards carried up to New* 
York. On the 7th Lord Howe received advice, 
that the fquadron from Toulon was arrived at 
Virginia. Count d'Eftaihg anchored on the Sih 
at night at the entrance of the Delaware. The 
next morning he weighed and failed towards the 
Hook, and on the evening of the 1 ith anchored 
without it. Had not bad weather and unexpected 
impediments prevented, the Count rauft have fur- 



142 



THE HISTORY Of [CH.VIT; 



prlfed Howe's fleet in the Delaware, as the latter 
would not have had time to efcape after being ap* 
prifed of his danger, The ceftrudion of the fleet 
mud have been the conf< qaence of fuch a furprifal, 
and that itouft have occ^fioned the inevitable Jcfs of 
the royalarrny, which would have been fo enclc- 
fed by the French fquadron on the one fiJe and 
th^ American forces on the other, that the Sara- 
toga Cataftrophe rouft have been repeated. Lord 
Howe's fleet confided only of 6 foty-four gun 
fhipi, three of fifry, and two of forty, with {erne 
frigates and floops. Count d'Eftaing had twelve 
fliips of the line, feme of which were cf great 
force and weight. 

On the 22d of July, the count failed from San- 
dy Hock, when about twenty fail cf vciTels bound 
io New- York fell Into his pciTeffioo. They wers 
chiefly prizes taken fronn the Americans \ but had 
he (tayed a few d*ys longer, Admiral Byron's fleet 
muii have fal'en a defenceless p?ey inio I 
hands. That fquanro?* had tret with unufuai had 
weather, and being feparated in differest fte 
End angering through a teolous * arrived 

fcattered, broken, fickly, difeailed or c 
damaged in various degrees nf diRrrfs, upon £'_. 
cut and remote parts cf the American coaft. Jk^ 



ck. vi r. 



NORTH AMERICA. 



143 



tween the departure of d'Eftaing and! the goth Ju- 
ly, the Renown of je gu*as from the Weit- Indies, 
the Raifonable and Centurion of 64 and the Corn- 
wall of 74 guns, ail arrived fingly at Sandy Hook. 
Ertaing's fpeedy departure, a number of pro- 
[} (hips from Cork efcaped alio, together with 
their convoy. They went up the Delaware with- 
in nicy miles of Philadelphia after Lord Howe had 
quitted the river, not having obtained any informa- 
tion of what had happened. The Britifli min 

tepefied countermanding their de (titration, 
h orders for the evacuation of Philadelphia 
had been fent off fo early, as to have admitted of 
their receiving, before failing, frefli indruclions 
where to have (leered. Great rejoicings were 
made at New-Yoik, upon their hie arrival, cfpe- 
clally as providers were much wanted both by the 
fleet and army. 

Let us now quit th-2 military operations for the 
pruent and take a view of the psndir-g ne^ocia- 
tioas. Governor J hn lone meaning to avail him- 
feif of former connexions, endeavored to com- 
mence or renew a private corrtfpondence with 
ral members cf coogrefs, and other prricriS of 
Ijppnfidcration. In his inters io th^-m he ufed a 
freedom with the authority under which be acUd, 



1 44 



THE HISTORY OF [CH. VII. 



not cuuomary with thofc inttufted with delegated 
power, and afforded fuch a degree of approbation 
to the Americana in the paft red 1 

made, as is fcldom grafted by negociatoK to theif 
opponents. In a 1, tier to Jofeph Reed, Ffq. of 
April nth, he faid, M The man, who can be in- 
(Irumental in bringing us all to a£t once more ia 
harmony, and to unite together the various pow- 
ers which their contcft his brought forth, will de- 
ferve more from the king and people, from patiiot- 
ifir*, humanity, and all the tender tits that are af- 
feded by the quarrel and reconciliation, than ev- 
er was yet bellowed on human kind/ 1 

On the 16th of June, he wrote to Robert Mor- 
ris, Efq. — " I believe the men, who have conduc- 
ed the affairs of America, incapableof being influ- 
enced by improper motives ; but in all Cuchtranf- 
actions there ic- rifk, and I think that whoever ven- 
tures mould be fecured ; at the fame time that 
honor and emolument fhould naturally follow the 
fortune of thou:, who have (leered the veiTcl in 
the ftorm, and brought her fafely to port. I I 
that W&fhiagton and the prefident have a right to 
every favor that a grateful ration can beftow, if 
they could once more unite our intereft, and I 
the miferiea and the cevaitations cf war" 



CH. VIl/j NORTH AMERICA^ I45 

On Sunday the 21ft of June, Mr, Reed received 
a written meffage from Mrs. Fergufon, exprefling 
a cehre to fee him on bufinefs, which could net be 
committed to writing. On his attending in the 
evening, agreeable to her appointment, after fome 
previous converfatiou, fhe enlarged upon the great 
talents and amiable qualities of Gov. Johnflone, 
and added, that in feveral conversations with her, 
he had exprefltd the moft favorable fentiments of 
Mr, Reed •, that it was particularly wHhtd to en- 
gage his intereft to promote the object of the Brit* 
ifh commiffioners, viz. a re*union of the two coun- 
tries, if confident with his principles and judg- 
ment -, and that in fuch cafe it could net be deem- 
ed unbecoming or improper in theBritifh govern- 
ment to take a favorable notice of fuch condu£t 5 
and that, in this inftance, Mr. Reed might have 
ten thoufand pounds fterling;, and any office in the 
colonies in his majtfty's gift. 

Mr. Reed flnrir.£ <jn anfwer wss expefied, re- 
plied, " I am not worth puuh^fing \ but fuch as 
I am, the king of Great-Britain it ret rich enough 
to do it." However right the principles might be P 
on which this insinuating fcheme of conciliates 
was adopted, its erle£ls were inimical. 
N 



I46 THE HISTORY OF [cH. VII. 

On the p*h of July, congrefs ordered, " That all 
letters received by members ot congrefs from any 
of the Biitifh ccmmiilioners, or their a^trits, or 
from any fubjctl of the king of Great-Btiuin, of a 
public nature, be laici before copgreis." The pre- 
ceding letters being communicated, and Mr. Reed 
making a declaration of what had paffed within his 
knowledge, congrefs refolved, " That the fame 
cannot be conildered but as diredl attempts to cor- 
rupt and bribe the congrefs \ that as congrefs feel, 
fo chey ought to demonftrate, the higheft and mod 
pointed indignation againft fuch dating and atro- 
cious attempts to corrupt their integrity ; and that 
it is incompatible with the honor of congrefs to 
hold any manner of correfpondence or intcrcourfe 
with the faid George Johnftone, Efq. efpecially to 
negociate with him upon affairs, in which the 
caufe of liberty is concerned." 

The proceedings in this bufinefs were exprefTed 
in the form of "a declaration, a copy of which was 
ordered to be Ggned by the prefident, and fent by 
aflag to the commiffioners at New-York. 

Thefe proceedings produced a very angry and 
violent declaration from governor Johnftone, in 
.which the immediate operations of paiuon and dif- 



CH, VII.] NORTH AMERICA. 1 47 

appointment were too confpicuous. The language 
of his publication bar poorly agreed with the high 
and flattering compliments he had fo lately lavifh- 
ed on the Americans in thofe very letters, which 
were the fubjetls of the prefent conteft. It was 
dated the 26th of Auguft, and tranfmitted to con- 
grefs ; together with the declaration of the fame 
date from Lord Carliile, Sir Henry Clinton, and 
Mr. Eden, which went to a folemn and total difa- 
vewal, fo far as related to the prefent fubjscl:, "of 
their having had any knowledge, directly or indl- 
refUy, of thofe matters fpecified by congrefs, 

Thus were al! hopes of further negotiation with 
congrefs a: an end. Had Lord North, and the 
refc of the mimicry then in being 5 adopted thefe 
corrupting meafures in the more early part of the 
American difputesj.it is poffihle he might have fuc* 
ceeded 1 but to attempt it at a time, when the fpir- 
its of the Americans were raifed to the highclt 
pitch, by their new alliance with France* was fine- 
ly little fnort of folly and madnefs. 

On the 6th of Auguft, the honorable Sieur Ger- 
ard was introduced to the congrefs, in quality of 
minifler plenipotentiary, whs produced a letter 
from his mailer the king of France to his very 



i 4 3 



fHE HISTORY OF [CH. VII. 



dear great friends and allies •> and the compliments 
JMons. Gerard received on this occaficn, were very 
ent from thole fentiments the Americans late- 
ly entertained of their now faithful allies ! 

On the 14th of September, congrefs proceeded 
to the election of a rninifter plenipotentiary to the 
court of France, when Dr. Benjamin Franklin was 
elected by ballot. His inftru&ions were dated ihe 
26th of Oftober, and by them he was dire£!ed to 
obtain, if pcHible, the French king's content to ex- 
punge two of (he articles of the treaty of commerce. 
The doctor was to inculcate the certainty of ruin- 
ing the Britifh fiihery on the banks of Newfound- 
land, and confequently the British marine, by re- 
ducing Halifax and Quebec. 



Memorable Events recorded in this CKiP- 
TER. 

Count Donop repulfed in the attack upon 
Red Bank, - - A. D. 1777. 

Mud liland reduced, - do* 

The Randolph American frigate blown 
up, - - - - - A» D. 1778* 

Sir Henry Ciinton fucceeds general Howe in 
America, do. 



CH. VllI.J NORTH AMERICA. I49 

The treaties between France and the United 
States figned, ... A. D. 1773. 

Lord North's conciliatory propofitions, - cc* 

Meffrs. Franklin, Deane, and Lee, haven 
public audience at the French court, - do, 

Congrefs receive the treaties concluded be- 
tween France and the United States, 
which they unanimoufly ratify, - do. 

The Britifh army evacuates Philadelphia, - do. 

Skirmifhes between the Englifh and Amer- 
icans, - - - do, 

The Britifh forces arrive at Sandy Hook, - do. 

Governor Johnftone attempts to corrupt cer- 
tain members of the congrefs, - - do, 

Dr. Franklin appointed minifter plenipoten- 
tiary at the court of France, - - do. 



' CHAPTER. VIU; 

THE campaign in the northern ftates having 
produced nothing advantageous to the Britiili, and 
the winter being the proper feafoa for foufhera 
expeditions, Sir Henry. Clinton concluded upea 



I5O THE HISTORY OF [cil, VIH. 

turning his arms againft Georgia. He might pro- 
pofe to himfelf the redu&ion of all the fouthern 
dates, and he drongiy inclined to it, by reafon that 
thefe dates produced the mod valuable articles of 
commerce for the European market, and carried 
on a confiderable export trade, which appeared no 
otherwife affected by the war, than as it fuff^red 
from the Britifh cruifers. The rice was devoted 
to the fervice of its enemies, while it was wanted 
fd* the fupport of the royal fl-et and army ia 
America. A plan of operations was concerted 
with general Prevoft, who commanded in E3II- 
Florida ^ and it was intended, that Georgia fliould 
be invaded both on the north and fouth fides at 
the fame time. 

This expedition was committed to colonel Camp* 
fael!, and the forces appointed to a£l under him, 
amounted to full 2500, which failed from Sandy 
Hook, en the 27th of November, being efcorted 
by a fmail fquadron under commodore Hyde Par- 
ker. The fleet arrived at the ifle of Fibee, near 
the mouth of the Savannah, and on the 29th of 
December the troops effected a landing. They 
were no fooner landed, lhan they were led to aN 
tack the fort, which the BritiCh psrfifted in with fo 
much fplrit and rapidity^ that the Americans re- 



CH. VIII.j NORTH AMERICA. I^ T 

treated with preeipitatibn and diforder. No vic- 
tory was ever more complete — thirty-eight officers* 
and 415 non-commiffioned and privates, 48 pieces 
of cannon, 23 mortars, the fort with its ammuni- 
tion! and ftores, the (hipping in the river, a large 
quantity of provifions, with the capital of Georgia* 
were all within the fpace of a few hours, in ths 
pofleffion of the Britifh troops. 

The 30th of December was appointed as a 
thankfgiving day, by order of congrefs. The af- 
fairs of the United States were at this period in a- 
moft diftrefled, deplorable, and ruinous condition, 
Idlenefs, diffipation, and extravagance, feemed to 
have engrofied the attention of the generality of 
the American fons of liberty ; and felf intereft*. 
fpeculation, and an infatiable thirft for riches ap- 
peared to have got the better of every other confed- 
eration, and aimed of every order of men. Party 
difputes and perfonal quarrels were too much the 
general objtS, while the momentous concerns of 
the empire, a vafl accumulated debt, ruined finan- 
ces, depreciated money, and want of credit, which 
naturally brings on the want of every thing, were 
but fecoadary confederations, and poftponed by 
congrefs from time to tiaic, as if their affairs wers 
ia tlie moll ffounlhing fituation. The paper cur- 



l$l THE HISTORY OF [CH. VIll. 

rency inPhiladelphia wasdaily Gnkirg,and at length 
even fo low as fifty per cent, yet an affembly, a 
concert, a dinner, or (upper, which coft two or 
three hundred pounds, did not only take men off 
from acting, hut even from thinking of what ought 
to have been nearest their hearts. Some of the 
nr* oft difinterefted and patriotic Americans felt 
more diftrefs fiom this review of things, than they 
had done at any other time, from the difappoint- 
ments and loffes in the courfe of the war. 

In the mean time, Mons. Gerard, the French 
ambaffador, manifefted a defire, that the war might 
not be prolonged by too high and unreafonable de- 
mands, and that the United States would reduce 
their ultimatum as low as poflible. He ftrongly 
recommended moderation, as the fate of war was 
uncertain ; znd he hinted, that a decifive naval en- 
gagement in favor of the Eritifb > might give a 
great tarn to their affairs* 

The South Carolina delegates, rather with a view 
:o conqueft, than from any fpecial apprehenfion of 
danger to their own or neighboring dates, from 
the troops under general Clinton, requeited the 
congrefs to appoint general Lincoln, on whofe char- 
ade*? they juftly repofed great confidence, tc tf*e 



CH. VIII. ^ NORTH AMERICA. T^J 

command of all the forces to the fouthward. Ac- 
cordingly they made the appointment on the 25th 
of Seprember, and ordered him immediately to re- 
pair to Charleltoh. 

On the 2J of March, the American officer of 
the day, at the poft at Briar-creek, in Georgia, re- 
potted, thjat reconnoitring parties of the enemy's 
horfe and foot had been ken within th ;ir piquet 
the night preceding. Gen. A (he, who had croffbd 
the Savannah, with about 1200 troops, befides, 
200 light horfe, returned on the evening of the 
fame day to his camp. He made no preparations 
to impede the march of the Britifh, and, foon after 
their appearance, he and his troops fled wiih pre- 
cipitation, without firing a gun. 

In the month of May, Sir Henry Clinton dif- 
patched Sir George Collier and general Matthews, 
with about two thoufand foldiers and 500 marines, 
to make a defcent upon Virginia. They failed 
for Portfmouth in that province, and upon their 
arrival landed their troops and took immediate 'pof- 
feffion of the town, which was defencdefs. The 
remains of Norfolk, on the oppofite fide of the riv- 
er, fell of courfe into their hands. On the ap- 
proach of the fleet and army, the Americans burnt 



*54 CHE HISTORY OP [cH. V1 T -. 

fome of their veflels, feveral however fell into the 
hands of the Britilh. The guards were* pufhed 
forward eighteen miles by night to Suffolk, w 
they arrived by day-light and proceeded tc deflroy 
a magazine of provifions, togethtr mhh ihc veflels 
and navn] (lores found there. A firrilar deftruc- 
tion was carried on at ether places in that quarter, 
riot \y« re the frigates and armed vtfftls kfs aclive 
or fuccefsful in their fervice. 

Within the fortnight that the fleet and army 
continued upon the coaft, thc-iofs of the Ameri- 
cans was prodigious. Above 130 vefiVls of all 
forts, including fome privateers, and fhips offeree, 
were deftroyed or taken by them ; feventeen pri- 
zes were brought away, befides three thoufand 
hogiheads of tobacco, which fell into their poflef- 
£on at Portfmouth. Except the houfe of a wid- 
ow and the church, they burnt every houfe in Suf. 
folk, and all the principal houfes of gentlemen in 
their route fhared the fame fate. 

On the 30th of May, thefe troops were joined 
to ethers going up the North river to attack the 
pofts of Stoney point and Verplank, where the 
Americans had begun to conftrufl ftrong works, 
fqr^ieeping the lower communication open b%* 



CH. VIII.] ■ NORTH AMERICA. 255 

tween the eaftern and (outhcrn ftates.—General 
Vaughan landed with the greater part on the eafl 
fide, while the remainder, accompanied by Sir 
Henry Clinton, advanced farther up, landed on 
the weft Cidcy and took poifcffion of Sccney Point 
without oppofition. DketVly oppofite, the Airier- 
leans had completely fini&ed a ftrong foxt p which 
was defended by four pieces of artillery, and a gar- 
rifon of about feventy men. But it was comnrian- 
ded by Stoney Point ; to the funsmit of which 
cannon and mortars were dragged up during the 
Bight. By five in the morning, a oattery was open- 
ed, which poured a dorm of tire on the fort, while 
Vaughan with his divulon mada a long circuit by 
the fides of the hills, arrived and clofdy inverted it 
by land. The garrifon, finding thernfclves totally 
overpowered, furrendered themfelves prifoners of 
war. By the lois of thefe pods the Jerfey people 
were obliged to make a circuit of about ninety 
miles under the mountains, to communicate with 
the ftates eaft of liudfon's river. 

After the French had taken Grenada, and d'Ef- 
taing was lying with his fleet at Cape Francois, he 
received letters from governor Rutltdge, general 
Lincoln, the French conful at Chailefton, and 
others, urging him to Wit the Ameneau coad, and 



I56 THE HISTORY CF [CH. VIII. 

propofing an attack upon Savannah. The general 
engaged to join him with a thousand rrtn Ltrtah, 
and promifed that every exenic n ihcb'd be made 
to increafe the number. The application coinci- 
ded with the king's inftn ftiens, to act in concert 
with the forces of the United States, whentveran 
occafion pre fen ted itfclf, he failed for the Ameri- 
can continent within a few days alter it was re* 
ceived. 

On the 1 ft of September, count d'Eftaing arri- 
ved with a fleet of twenty fail of the line, two of 
fifty guns, nrd eleven frigates. The appearance 
of the French fleet on the coaftsof South Carolina 
and Georgia was fo unexpected by the Britifh that 
the Experiment man of war, of fifty guns, Sir 
James Wallace commander, and ihiee frigates 
were captured. No fooner was it known 2£ 
Charlefton, that the court was on the coaft, than 
Lincoln marched with ail expedition for Savannah, 
with the troops under Ms eo nun and ; and orders 
were alfo given for the South Carolina and Gecr« 
gia .militia to renrirzvous immediately near the 
fame place. The fcritifli were equally diligent in 
preparing for their defence. 

The French inA Americans after having fpeht 
fonae time ia making regular approaches at laft 



m. ViU.] NORTH AMERICA, 157 

determined to take the place by (torra. Accord- 
ingly the morning of the oh o; Q&ober was fixed 
for. the attack, and neither the French nor u*« 
Americans had the leaft doubt of fupcefs. 

Two feints were made with the country frMria, 
and ana! attack a little- before day-fight en the 
Spring hill battery, with 350c French troops, 600 
continentals* and 350 of the Chavlefron ,taititia> 
headed by count ti'Eftaing and general feticpb .-— 
They matched up to the lines with gr^at boMneCs^ 
but a heavy 2nd weli*dire£fced fire fcrom tl g h rtre~ 
ries, and a crofs fire from the gallics fhfew the 
front of the column into conicucn. 1 wo stand- 
ards however, one an Ameiican, were planted on 
the British redoubts. Count Fuiafki at the head 
of 2QQ horfemen, was in 'full gallop, riding irro 
town between the -redoubts, with an intent of char- 
ging in the rear, when he received a mortal wound. 
A general retreat of the -Vffailanrs took place, after 
they had flood the enemy's fire for fifty-five min- 
utes. D'Eftaing received two flight wounds ; 637 
of his troops, and 234 of the continentals were 
killed or wounded. Of the 350 Charlefton mili- 
tia, who were in the hotteft of the fire, only fix 
^*ere wounded, and a captain killed. Gen. Pre- 
ro& and major Moncrief defervedly acquired great 
O 



15$ THE HISTORY OF [dl, VTn. 

reputation by their fuccefsful defence. There 
were not ten guns mounted on the lines when the 
enemy firft appeared, 2nd in a few days the num- 
ber exceeded eighty. The garrifon was between 
two and three thoufand, including 150 militia. — 
The damage it fuftained was trifling as the men 
fired under cover and few of the aflailants fired 
at att. 

Let us now fee what the northern army was do- 
ing. In the middle of December, a part of gener- 
al Wafhingtor^s army was without bread ; and for 
the reft he had not, either on the fpot or within 
reach, a fupply fuflicient for four days. Both of- 
ficers and men were almcfi perifhing through want 
for a fortnight. The deficiency proceeded from 
the abfolute emptinefs of the American magazines 
in every place, and the total want of money and 
credit to replenifh them. So that the general was 
obliged to call upon the magistrates of the Jerfey 
ftate, to exprefs his fituation to them, and to de- 
clare in plain terms, that he and his army were re- 
duced to the alternative of difbanding or catering 
for themfelves, unlefs the inhabitants would affoid 
them aid. He allotted to each county a certain 
proportion of flour or grain, and a certain number 
of cattle to be delivered on certain days. — To the 



CM. VIII.] NORTH AMERICA. I£9 

honor of the magiftrates, and the good difpofitions 
of. the people, be it added, that thefe requifitions 
were pundually complied with, and in many coun* 
ties exceeded. 

But to return to the fouthern armies. On the 
20th of March, 1780, admiral Arbuthhot, with a 
fmail fleet croffed the bar, in front of rebellion 
road, and anchored in Five Fathom Hole. The 
American fleet retreated to Charleftcn, and the 
crews and guns of all the vcffcls, except the Ran- 
ger, were put on (here to reinforce the batteries. 
Before the Americans had taken this ftep, they 
fhould have cenfrdered, whether the (hips were 
able to defend the bar, and fhould have fent them 
off, when they found it impra&icable. 

On the 1 2th of April, the Brkifh opened their 
batteries againft Charleiion, and-- a- .conftant fire 
was kept up between both parties until the 20th* 
On the 1 8th of April, Sir Henry Clinton received 
a reinforcement of 3000 men from New- York ; 
and on the 12th of May, general Lincoln, after 
having made the moS vigorous defence he was ca- 
pable of, was obliged to capitulate. It was ftipu- 
iated that the continental troops and failors fhould 
remain prifoners of war until exchanged, and be 
provided with good and wholefome provlfions, ia 



*6v> THE HISTORY 07 [CH. VIII. 

fuch quantities as were fcrved cut to the Britifh 
troops. The militia were to return heme as prif- 
ouen on parole, which as long as they obferved, 
was to fecure them from being molefted in their 
property by the Britifh troops. The officers of tLe 
my and navy were to keep their f words, piftcls 
and baggage, which laft was not to be fearche d ; 
but their horfes were not to go out of town, but 
plight be difpofed of by a perfen left for the pur- 
pcle. . The garrifon, at an hour appointed, was to 
march out of the town to the ground between the 
works of the place and the canal, where they were 
to depofij: their arms. The drums weTe not to 
beat a Britifh march, nor the colors to be uncafed. 
All civil officers and citizens, who had borne arm* 
g the Geg£» were to be prifoners on paieie; 
with refpeft to their property in the city, (hey 
v re-re to v ave the fame terms as the militia; and 
al! ether perfons in the town, not defcribed in any 
aru-de, were notwkhftanding to be prifoners upoa 

J ■■■:. !e. 

The having furrendered, the next ebje£i 

c' - > was to fecure the general fubmiffion 

of the IrihabiitantSi With this view they polled 
p rifqns in different parts of the country, and 
a large body of troops ever the Samee, 



CK* VIIT.] NORTH AMERICA. l6l 

towards the extremity of the ftate, which borders 
on the mofl: populous parts of North Carolina. — 
This occa&oned the retreat of fome American par- 
ties, who had advanced into the upper part of South 
Carolina, in expectation of relieving Charkflon. 
Among the corps which had come forward with 
that view, there was one confuting of about 30a 
continentals, the rear of the Virginia line, com* 
roanded by colonel Buford, Tarleton with about 
700 horfe and foot, was feat in queftof this party. 
Having mounted his infantry, he marched 105 
miles in fifteen hours, came up with them at the 
Waxhaws, and demanded their furrender on terms 
finvjar to ihofe granted to the continentals at 
Charlefton. White the flags^were paffing and re- 
palling en this bu Griefs, Tarleton kept his men ia 
motion, and when the truce was ended had nearly 
iurrounded his adverfaries. An aftion inftandy 
enfued, when the continental party having parta- 
ken of the general confirmation oscafloned by the 
Britifh fucceffes, made but a feeble re fiftancc, and 
begged for quarters/ A few however continued to 
Sre. The BritiCh cavalry advanced, but were not 
oppofed by the m*in body of the continentals, who 
conceived themfelves precluded by their fubmiilion, 
accidfj^aj firing of the few was an argument 
O 2 



102 THE HISTORY OF [ciI, VIII. 

however for dlre&ing the Britifh legicn to charge 
thefe who had hid down their arms. In cenfe- 
quence of this order, the uurefifting Ameiican:, 
praying for quarters, were cut in pieces. By Tarle- 
tcn's official account of this bloody fcene, 1 13 were 
killed, 50 badly wounded, unable to travel, and 
left on parole, and 53 made prifoners, while they 
made fuch ineffectual oppofition as only to kill 
feven and wound twelve of the Britifh. Lord 
Cornwallis beftowed on Tarleton the higheft en- 
comiums for this enterprize, and recommended 
him in a fpecial manner to royal favor and pat* 
ronage. 

The e^pedled fuccors at length arrived from 
France, 051 the erening of the 10th of July, at 
Rhode-Iikod. The Chevalier de Ternay command- 
ed the fleet, which confided of two ihips of eighty 
guns, one of 74, four of 64, a bomb vefle!, and 32 
tranfports. The land forces confided of four old 
regiments befides the legion de Lauzun, and a bat- 
talion of artillery, amounting to about 6000 men 
under the command of Lieutenant-General Count 
de Roshauibeau. 

About the time that Charlefton furrendered, Sir 
H, Clinton received intelligence that a large nurf> 



CH. VIII. J NORTH AMERICA, 

ber of forces and a French fleet commanded by 
Mone. Ternay, might fcon be expected on the 
American coaft. This induced him to re-embark 
for New-York, leaving LordCornwallis with about 
4000 men, which were deemed fully fufficienl k : 
his purpofes, 

On the 4th of September was figned the -plan of 
a treaty of commerce between the dates of Hol- 
land and the United States of America. I 
de Neufville, being properly authorifcd by the re- 
gency of Amiterdacn, engaged, that as long as 
America {hould not a£l contrary to the intereft of 
the ftates of Holland, the city of Amfterdam would 
never adopt any meafure that might tend to oppofe 
the interefts of America^ but would on the con- 
trary, ufe all its influence upon the ftates of the 
fever) United provinces of Holland* to effe£l ;i;e 
defired connexion* This bufifiefa was conducted 
by Mr. John Adams on the part of America. 

Lord Cornwailis went on fucceftful-y in South 
Carolina, On the 1 6th of Auguii he z^g"?zd the 
forces under general Gates, and completely routed 
them after a long and obftinate ccnteH:. General 
Gates was borne off the field by a torrent of dif- 
mayed militia. They ccnftituted h great a part 
of his army, that when he-faw thsm break and nm 



164 ?HE HISTORY OF [cH. VIII. 

with fuch precipitation, he loft every hope of vic- 
tory 5 and his only care was, if pofiible, to rallya 
fufficient number to cover the retreat of the other 
troops. He retired with general Cafwell to Cler- 
mont, in hope of halting thern in their late encamp- 
ment j but the further they fled, the more they 
difperfed, and the generals giving up all as loftj 
retired with a few attendants to Charlotte* 

The Americans loft eight field pieces, the whole 
of their artillery, wuh all their ammunition wag- 
gons, hefides 150- others, and a confiderabie quan- 
tity of military (tores, and the greateft part of their 
baggage. The numbers Sain cannot be precisely 
afcertained, no returns cf the militia being made 
after the a£lion ; but it is fuppofed, that the Amer- 
icans loft about 700 oa this, occafion. Though 
Cornwallis' victory was complete, yet from the 
account the Britifh gave of the action, it may be 
inferred, that it was dearly bought, upwards of 500 
of iheir own troops being killed or wounded. 

A minute repreientaticn cf the retreat of the 
Americans from Charlotte to Saiiibury, would be 
the image of complicated wretchednefs. Care ? 
anxiety, pain, humiliation and dej-:£iion, poverty, 
hurry and confufion, promifcuoufly mark'ed the 
king fccnc. Painful obje&s pre fenced thera- 



eH.vnr/J north America. 165 

felves to view, feveral men without an arm fome 
"with but one, and many (landing in need of the 
mod kind ?*nd powerful affidance. 

Lord CprnwaHis, notwithftanding his vi&ory, 
was retrained for fome time from purfuing his 
conquefts, by the iofs he had fuftained in the bat- 
. tie, the extreme heat of the weather, ficklinefs of 
the feafon, and the want of needier/ fupplics 5 he 
therefore remained at Camhden. 

In the month of September, a difcovery of the 
utmofi impoitance was made, ^hich was a Cchem^ 
for delivering Weft Point into the hands of Sir 
Henry Clinton. General Arnold ^ho had the 
command 'of that poR, was brave but mercenary, 
fond of parade, and extremely defirous of acqui- 
ring money to defray the espeofes of it. When 
he entered Philadelphia after the evacuation, he 
made governor Peon's houfe, the befi; in the city, 
his head-quarters. This he furnifiied in a very 
coftiy manner, "and ifceci in a fcyle far beyond his 
income. He continued his extravagant < ourfeof 
living, was unfuccefsful in trade and privateering, 
his funds were exh^ufted, and his creditors impor- 
tunate, while his lufl for high life was not in the 
lead abated. He had efhibitifd heavy accounts, 
and demands again ft the public j and the commif- 



l66 THE HTSTORY OF [CH, VI1I# 

fioners, upon examination, rejected about one half 
of the amount. He appealed to congrefs and a 
committee was appointed, who were of opinion, 
that the commifTioners had allowed more than the 
general had a Tight to expefi or demand. This 
provoked him to outrageous exprtftidns and pro- 
ceedings. Dlfgufted at the treatment he had 
met with, emharrafl>d in his circifimftances, and 
Having a growing expensive family, he turned his 
thoughts towards bettering his circumftances by 
lie w means. In i 779, a correfpendence commen- 
ced between general Arnold and major Andre, ad- 
jutant-general to the Biitifti army, a rifing young 
officer of great hope and merit. 

For the fpeedy completion of the negociatico 
that was carrying on between msjor Andre and 
genciai Arnold, the Vulture Coop of war was Ra- 
tioned in the North river, at fuch a diftance from 
the American poils, as, without exciting fufpicion, 
would fSjXve for the neceiTary communication. Be- 
fore this, a written correfp.onden.ee through other 
channels had been maintained between Arnold 
and Andre, at New- York, under the names of 
Guftavus and Anderfon. 

On the aift of September, the necefiary arrange- 
ments being made, a boat was feat at night from 



CH. VIII.] NORTH AMERICA. l6*f 

the fnore to the Vulture, to fetch major Andre, 
which brought him te the beach without the 
ports of either army, where he met Arnold. The 
major continued with him during the day follow- 
ing, and at night, the boatman refuting to conduct 
him back to the Vulture, which had ihifted her 
petition, as (he lay expofed to the fire cf a cannon 
fent to annoy her, he was obliged to concert his 
efcape by land. He quitted his uniform, which 
he had hitherto worn under his furtoufyfor a com- 
mon coat. He was furnished with a hcrfe, and, 
under the name of John Andcrfon, with a paflport 
from Arnold to go through the lines at White 
Flams or lower if he thought proper, on public 
bufinefs. 

He purfued his journey alone towards York, 
paiTed all the guards zv.6 pofts on the road without 
fufpicion, and was much elated. The nest day 
he travelled without any alarm, and began to 
confider himfelf o43t of danger ; but unhappily for 
him, three of the New- York militia were with 
ethers on a fcouting' party between the out pofts 
cf the two armies. One of them Tprung hem his 
covert and fuzed Andre's horfc by the bridle. The 
major inftead of inftantly producing his pafs, afk- 
ed the man where he belonged, who arifwered* 



i68 



THE HISTORY OF [CH. VIII. 






u to below. " Andre fufpe&jng no deceit, faid 
*< (o do I" Then declared himfelf a Britifh officer, 
and preCed that he might net be dv for that 

he was upon urgent bufinefs. Upon the other 
two cording up »g their comrade he 

covered his miftake. The confuGon that followed 

v ; - s -•-, and they proceeded to fearch him 

till t h <r y (a- re. He offered the captors 

a c We purfe of gold, and a very valuable 

witch, to let hi ; but they nobly difdained 

the temptation, - f fcinating offers of 

pmt)a«ent provifior, and even of future promo- 
tir n, on condition of their conveying and accom- 
panying him to New-Tf ork. They conducted him 
to lieutenant-colonel Jamefon, the continental of- 
ficer who had the command of the fcouting par- 
ties, amount ing to 800 men, chiefly militia. — Ar- 
nold's condu£t with regard to this body of men, 
end in other refpe&v had excited fuch fufpicions 
in the bread of the lieutenant-colonel, and the reft 
g! the cScers, that they had determined upon fei- 
2i.ng th? general at all events, had he come down 
i.nd ordered rhem rearer the enemy, Jamefon, 
nbiwitliftanding his ftrong jealoufy of Arnold, 
was in the iifue the means of his efcape. 



CH. VIII. ^ NORTH AMERICA. 1 69 

Major Andre in order to give Arnold time to e£* 
cape, requeued that a line might befent to acquaint 
him of die detection of Anderfon, the name An- 
dre had affumed which Jamefon, through an ill- 
judged delicacy, granted. The papers which were 
found in the major's boots, were in Arnold's hand 
writing, and contained exaft returns of the slate 
of the forces, ordnance and defences at Weft Point 
and its dependencies, with the artillery orders, crit- 
ical remarks on the works, an eftimatc of the num- 
ber of men that were ordinarily on duty to man 
them, and the copy of a ftate of matters that had 
been laid before a council of war by the command- 
er in chief. v Thefe papers were enclcfed in a pack-> 
€t to Gen. Wafhington, accompanied with a letter 
from the pr.ifoner, avowing- himfclf to be major 
Andre, adjutant-general to the Britith army, rela- 
ting the manner of his capture, and endeavoring 
to (how, that he did not come under the descrip- 
tion of a fpy. — Thefe papera were forwarded by 
Jamefon. 

No fooner had Arnold received the major's let- 
ter, than he haftened on board the Vulture, which 
lay fome miles below Stoney Point 5 he had net 
been long gone, when Washington arrived at his 
quarters fjrom the eaftward. Had the plot fuccced- 
P 



170 



THE HISTORY OF [cH. VTI7. 



ed, the confequenccs mud have been ruinous to 
the Americans. The forces under Arnold's com- 
mand muft have either laid down their arms, or 
have been cut to pieces. The ir lefs, and the im- 
mediate poffeflion of Weft Point, and all irs neigh- 
boring dependencies, muft have expofed the re- 
mainder of Washington's army to the joint exer- 
tion of the Britifti forces, by land and water, and 
nothing but ruin could have been the refult with 
refpefl to the Americans. 

On. the 29th of September, general Waffling ton 
appointed a board of fourteen general officers, with 
the aiuftance of the judge advocate general, to ex- 
amine major Andre's cafe, and to determine in 
what light it ought to be confidered. Andre, dif- 
daining all fubterfuge and evation, and fludying 
only to place his charter in fo fair a light, as 
might prevent its being (haded by prefent circum- 
ftances, voluntarily confeffed more than he was 
afked and fought not to palliate any thing relating 
to hiisfdf, while he concealed, with the mod guar- 
ded and fcrupulous nicety, whatever might involve 
others. The board (lie wed him every poffible 
mark of indulgence,. and fufiicienrly witneffed how 
much they felt for his Titration. However pub- 
lic juliice obliged them -to declare, « that major 



GH. VIII.] NORTH AMERICA. 1JT 

Andre ought to be conGdered as a fpy from the en- 
emy -, and that agreeable to the law and ufage of 
nations, it is their opinion he ought to fuffcr 
death." 

Several letters pa fled between the generals Ciin« 
ton and Wafniogton relative to this unhappy af- 
fair \ but nothing was capable of favingp the un- 
fortunate major. On the ad of October, the trag- 
edy was doled. The major was fuperior to the 
terrors of death $ but the difgraceful mode of dy- 
ing, which the ufage of war had annexed to his 
unhappy fituation, was infinitely dreadful to hiiru 
He was defnous of being indulged with, a profef- 
fional death, and had accordingly written, the day 
before, a pathetic letter, fraught with all the feel- 
ings of a man of fentiment and honor, in which he 
requefted of general Wafhington, that he might 
not die on a gibbet. The general confuted his of- 
ficers on the fubject. Pity and efteem wrought fo 
powerfully that they were all for {hooting him, till 
Greene infilled on it, that his crime was that of a 
common fpy; that the public good required his 
being hanged ; and that, were he {hot. the general- 
ity would think there were favorable circumftances 
entitling him to notice and lenity. His ohferva- 
lions convinced them that there would be an ijn-- 



I72 THE HISTORY O? [CH. VIII* 

propriety in granting the major's requeft, while 
tendernefs prevented its being divulged. 

V/hen Major Andre was led out to the place of 
execution, as he w$nt along he bowed himfelf fa- 
miliarly to ail thofe with whom he had been ac- 
quainted in his confinement. A fmile cf compla- 
cency exprefied the fercne fortitude of his mind. 
Upon ueiog the preparaiic/.: at the fatal fpot, he 
afked with emotion, ct Mufi I die in this manner f" 
lie was told it was unavoidable. He replied, *«I 
am reconciled to my fate, but not to the mode. 91 — 
Scon after, recollecting himfelf, he added, *' it will 
be but a momentary pang " and fpringing upon 
the cart, he performed the laft offices to himfelf 
with a comoofure that excited the admiration, and 
melted the hearts of all the fpectators. Being 
tojd the final moment was at hand, and alked if 
he had any thing to fay, he anfwered, " Nothing 
but to requeft you will witnefs to the world, that 
I die like a brave man." He died univerfaily cf- 



t£^rn.c£ 



>nd regretted. 



Memorable Events recorded in- this Chap- 
ter. 

The Bntifh operations againft Georgia, A. D. 1778 
The affairs of the United States in a deplo- 
rable condition, .. - - - do* 



CH. IX.] NORTH AMERICA,* 1 73 

Gen. Lincoln fent to South Carolina, A. D. 1778 

Gen. Afhe furprifed and defeated, A. D. i 

Sir Henry Clinton takes Stony Point, 

Count d'Eiiaing fails from the Weft Indies 
for the American coaft, - - - do. 

The French and Americans repulfed at Sa- 
vannah, ----- do. 

Wafhington's army in diftrefs for want of 
bread, ----- Jo. 

Charlefton taken by the Britifh forces, - do. 

Tarleton defeats colonel Buford, A. D. 1780 

A French fleet with troops arrive at New- 
port, ------ do, 

Treaty figned between Holland and Amer- 
ica, - - - - - - do. 

Earl Cornwallis defeats general Gates, - do. 

Major Andre taken agd executed as a fpy, do. 

Gen. Arnold makes his efcape on board the 
Vulture Britifh flocp of war, « - do* 

CHAPTER IX, 

SIR Henry Clinton, on the 15th of Otlober^ 
1780, in obedience to the orders fent him to nrofr 

. p % 



174 T HE HISTORY OF [CK, IX. 

ecute the war with vigor in North Carolina and 
Virginia, difpatched general Leflie from N. York 
to the bay of Chefapeake, with near 3000 choice 
troops. He was to co-operate with Lord Corn- 
wall, who was expected to be far advanced to- 
wards, if not to have reached, Virginia. In a few 
days, the fleet arrived in the hay, and the troops 
were landed in different parts of Virginia. 

On the acth of June, the French and Spanifh 
fleets formed a junction in the Weft Indies. They 
amounted to 36 fail of the line, which with their 
united land forces, formed fuch an apparent fupe- 
jriority, as nothing in thofe feas or iflands feemed 
capable o£ refilling ; but the Spanifh troops being 
too much crowded on board their tranfpcrts, to- 
gether with the length of the voyage, the change 
of climate and diet, and other circumfiances, a 
£icft mortal and contagious diforder was genera- 
ted, which nrf!: infected their own feamen, and at 
length fpread, though net with (0 fatal an efre£t 
through the French fleet and land forces. Befides 
the great mortality on the paffage, the Spaniards 
landed 1200 fick on their firfl arrival at Domi- 
hiqae, and a much greater number afterwards at 
Guada!oupe and Martinico. Thus the fpirit of en- 



CH. IX,] NORTH AMERICA* 1 75 

terprize was damped, and fome part of their 
firength diminifhed. 

la the month of September, Mr. Laurens, was, 
taken on his way from America to Holland, oa 
the banks of Newfoundland. A packet of papers 
being thrown overboard, and not finking fuddenly 
was faved by the boldnefs and dexterity of an Eng^ 
lifh faiior, and molt of them were recovered from 
the effects of the water. On his arrival in Eng- 
land, he was committed, upon a charge of high 
treafon as a ftate pnfoner in the Tower, under an 
order figned by the three fecretarles of Rate. By 
the medium of his papers, adminiftration came to 
the knowledge of the eventual treaty of amity and 
commerce between America and Holland, 

In confequence of this discovery, ftroog remon- 
ftrances were mads to the States general ; but as 
no fatisfaftory anfwer was returned, Sir Jofeph 
Tcorke received orders to withdraw from the 
Hague ; and, on the 20th of December,, genera] 
reprlfals were iffued againft the fnips, goods, and 
fubjcdls, of the States General. 

Oa the 1 2th of January, 1781, General Greene's 
troops confided of about 1 100. The next day, 
colons! Lee's panizan legion arrived from the 



*?6 THE HISTORY OF (_CH, IX, 

northward, confiding of about ico horfemen, well 
tec', and 120 infantry ; ami cr the Ukh the 
legion was detached on z fecret ex 0. They 

puflied on for Georgetown, where :hey furptifed 
feveral officers, and c riers. M 

Irvin, and many rncre of the gar; H killed ; 

bu: the: principal part fled lo the tor:, whi h Lee 
w?s not in a condition to befiege. Whi 
terprife was carrying on, the enemy aimed a blew 
at Morgan, who was advifed by Greene not to 
rifque too much. 

General Lcfiif, in compliance with his order3 
left Virgins, and arrived at Charleflon, and joined 
lord Ccrnwallis who wished to drive general Mor- 
gan from his (lotion and to deter the inhabitants 
from joining him. The execution of this bufi nefs 
was entrufted to lieutenant-colonel Tarletcn, ^r.o 
was detached with about Mod men for that pur- 
pofe. On the 17th of January, Tarleton came up 
with Morgan, when an acTiion commenced, which 
terminated in the alcnoil total defeat of Tarleton. 

Tarleton was verjr much cenfured for his con- 
duct in this battle, which he was fuppefed to have 
loft by his un-officer-iike impetuoSty. Lord Corn- 
^aliis, wfeii the expectations of regaining the 
pmcners ; and demolishing Morgan's corps, inftant- 



CH. IX.] NORTH AMERICA. 1 77 

ly concluded on a purfuit, which Morgan was 
aware of, and took his meafures accordingly. 

On the 31ft of January, Greene d Mor- 

gan in the command of the So jrj whzn 

a kind of military race began between the purfdfng 
Britiih and the fleeing Americans; but Greene 
got off before Cornwaiiis could overtake h 

Lord Cornwaiiis, being afterwards convinced 
frcm Greene's movements, that he intended to 
venture an engagement, on the 14th of May feat 
off his baggage under a proper efcort, and the nest 
morning at day-break, csVarched with the remain* 
der of his army, amounting to about 2400 men, 
chiefly troops grown veteran La vie'eory, eifcl» t to 
meet Greene on the way, or attack him m nis en- 
campmen/. 

The battle took place near Guilford court-houfe ^ 
and after a hard druggie of near two hours, the 
Americans retreated in good order to the Reedy 
Fork, and crcfled the river, about three mi!c3 from 
the field of action. Greene 16ft his artillery, and 
two ammunition waggons, the grenteU part of the 
horfes being killed before the retreat began, 

In the month of Februsryj reprlfals having been 
commenced againft the DutcBj Kointj and 



lyS THE HISTORY OF [ch. IX. 

Vaughan received inftruftions from Great-Bntain 
to dire£l their views to the reduction oi the Dutch 
ifland of St. EufUtia. The BritiGi fiett and army 
appeared there, and furrounded it with a ^reat 
force. Rodney and Vaughan fent a peremptory 
fummcns to the governor, to funender the ifland 
and its dependencies within an hour, accompanied 
With a threat, that if any refiftance was made, he 
mult abide the confequences. Mens, de Graaff, 
totally ignorant of the rupture between Great- 
Britain and Hciland, could fcarely believe the of* 
ficer who delivered the fummcns, to be fcrious. — 
He returned for anfwer, that being utterly incspa- 
l!e of making any defence, he mud of necefiity 
furrender, only recommending the town and inhab- 
itants to the clemency of the Britifh commanders. 
The wealth of the place excited the aftonifrment 
of the conqueror?, the whole ifland fee toed to be 
cue great magazine. All the ftore-hcufes weiq 
filled with various commodities, and the very beach 
was covered with hogfheads of fugar and tobacco, 
The value was ePiimated con fide rabij above three 
rmHIons fterling. But this was only a part ; fci 
above i5oveiTe!sof a^l denominations, rr.any of 
them richly laden, were captured in the bay* exclu- 
sive hi a Dutch frigate of 38 guns* and five fmalfer. 



•CH. IX j NORTH AMERICA. 17^ 

The neighboring fmaii ifl-s of St, Martin and Seba 
were reduced in the Umc manner. 

Rodney being informed, that a fleet of about 30 
large (hips, all richly iadeiv with fugar and oiher 
Weft-India commodities, had failed from Euitatia 
for Holland juft before his arrival, under a convoy 
of a fid* fijip 01 60 guns, he dispatched the Mon- 
arch and Panther, with the Sybei frigate in purfuit 
of them. Thefe foon overtook the convoy, when 
the Dutch admiral refufing to (bike his colors, and 
-all rernonftranoes proving ineffectual, a ihort en- 
gagement took place, between his fhip, the Mars 
and the Monarch. He died in defence of his (hip, 
when {he inftantiy (truck, and the whole convoy 
was taken. 

The keeping of Dutch colors flying at Euftatia, 
rendered it for fomenme a decoy to French, Dutch 
and American veiTels, a confiderable number of 
which fell accordingly into the hands of the con- 
querors without trouble. 

Preparations began to be made, on the 21ft of 
June, for rhc army under General Washington to 
take the field. The Americans raarched towards 
White Plains, where they were joined by the 
French troops under Rochambeau. 



;i8o 



THE HIS TO P. Y OF 



[ca. ix. 



Sir George Rodney, in confequence of informa- 
tion concerning the French fleet unchr the count 
de Grafle, detached the Admirals Sit Samuel Hood 
and Drake, with feventeen fail of the line, to cruife 
off Fort Royal for the purpsfe cf intercepting him. 
Or the 28th cf April, fome of fir Samuel's head- 
moft fhips returned haftiiy in fight, and with fig- 
nals announced the appearance of a fuperior fleet, 
and a numerous convoy, to the windward of Point 
Salines. The admiral made a fignal for a general 
chafe to windward, and at night it was determined 
by the admirals to continue the line ahead, fo that 
getting as much as pofiible to windward, they 
might e'efe in with Fort Royal at day light, and 
cut off the enemy from the harbor. 

In the morning the French appeared ; their con* 
voy keeping clofe in with the land, while count de 
GraiTe drew up his fleet in a line of battle for their 
protection. Admiral Hood ufed every manoeuvre 
to bring him to a£iion 5 but he being to windward, 
and fo having the choice, preferred a long (hot dif- 
tance. A partial engagement enfued. The van 
and the neareil (hips in the centre of the Britifh 
were expofed to a long 2nd heavy weight cf fire, 
in their druggies to clofe the French, and get to 
the windward > but fuffered principally in their 



CH. IX.] NORTH AMERICA* I 8 I 

mails, hulls and rigging, The a£tion lafced about 
three hours, when admiral Hood perceiving, that 
not one {hot in ten of the French reached^ and that 
his attempts to gain the wind were fruitlefa, ceai* 
ed firing, and the Britifh fleet bore away for An*» 
tigua. 

Let us now return to the tranfacnens under 
Lord Cornwallis. One great obje£i of the Brltiih 
force was the eftablifhment of a ftrong poft and 
place of arms, and fuch as might render them per- 
fectly mailers of Chefapeake bay, and therefore 
they repaired to York Town and Glcucefter. 

The French and American armies continued 
their march from the northward, till they arrived 
at the head of Elk ; and within an hour after they 
received an exprefs from Count de Giraffe, with the 
joyful account of his arrival and fituation. By the 
15th of September, ai! the troops were arrived and 
landed at Wiiliamfburgh 5 and preparations were 
made with all poffible difpatch for putting the ar- 
my in a fituation to move down towards York 
Town, 

On the 30th of September, Lord Cornwallis was 
tlofely invefted in York Town. The trenches 
were opened by the combined armies on the 6th of 



182 THE HISTORY OF [ch, nt. 

O&ober, at 60 yards diftance from Cornwallis' 
works. On the 9th they opened their bitterns, and 
continued firing all night, without rntermrffion. — 
The next morning the French opened their batter- 
ies on the left, and a tremendous roar of cannon 
and mortars was continued for fix cr eight hours 
without ceafmg. 

The French and Americans continued to carry 
on the (lege with great fuccefs. 

On the 1 6th their feveral batteries were covered 
with near 100 pieces ef heavy ordnance ; while the 
Britifli works were fo deftroyed that they could 
fcarcely (how a.finglc gun. Thus was Lord Corn- 
wallis reduced to the neceflity of preparing for a 
furrender, or of attempting an efcape. He deter- 
mined upon the latter. Boats were prepared un- 
der different pretences, for the reception of the 
troops by ten at night, in order to pafs them over 
to Gloucefter Point. The arrangements were 
made with the utmoft fecrecy. The intention was 
to abandon the baggage, and to leave a detachment 
behind to capitulate for the t@wn's people, and for 
the Gck and wounded, his iordfntp having already 
prepared a letter on the fubjeft, to be delivered to 
general Waihington after his departure. The firft 



CH. IX. J NORTH AMERICA. 1 83 

embarkation had arrived at Gloucefter Point, and 
the greater part of the troops were already landed*- 
when the weather, which was before moderate and 
calm, inftantly changed to a rnoft violent ftorm of 
wind and rain. The boats with the remaining 
troops were all driven down the river, and the de- 
fj^n of paffing over was not only entirely fruiira- 
ted, bat tile abfence of the boats rendered h ijffipfcf- 
fibie to bring back the troops from Gloucester.— 
Thus weakened and divided, the army was in no 
fmall danger. However, the boats returned, and 
the troops were brought back in the courfe of the 
forenoon with very little lofs. 

Things were now hafteniog to a period, which 
could be no longer protracted; for the Britiih 
works were finking under the weight of the French 
and American artillery. All hopes of relief from 
New- York were over, and the ftrength and fpirits 
of the royal army were broken down and exhauft- 
ed by their conilant and unremitting fatigue* — - 
Matters being in this fituatiorij en the 17th of Oc- 
tober, Lord Corn wallis Tent out a flag with a letter 
to general Washington, requefting a ceiTation c£ 
arms for twenty- four hours, and that commiSion- 
ers might be appointed for digefting the terms cf 
capitulation. Commiffioners were accordingly ap<i 



1 84 



THE HISTORY OF [CH. IX. 






pointed ; and on the fide of the allies, were Vif- 
count de Noailles, and lieutenant-colonel Laurens, 
whofe father was in clofe confinement in the Tow- 
er of London, while the fon was drawing up arti- 
cles by which an Engiifh nobleman and a Britifh 
army became prifoners. 

On the ipth of Oclcber, the pofls of York 
Town and Gloucefter were furrendered. The 
honor of marching out with colors flying, which 
had been denied to general Lincoln, was now re- 
futed to Lord Cornwallis, and Lincoln was appoint- 
ed to receive the fubmiffion of the royal army at 
York Ti^wn, precifely in the fame way his own 
hsd been conduced about eighteen months before. 
The troops that furrendered prifoners exceeded 
7000 -, but fo great was the number of fick and 
wounded, that there were only 3800 capable of 
doing duty. The officers and foldiers retained 
their baggage and efte&s. Fifteen hundred fea- 
men fhared the fame fate as the garrifen. The 
Guadaloupe frigate of 44 guns, and a number of 
tranfports, were furrendered to the conquerors. — 
About 20 tranfports had been funk or burnt during 
the fiege. The land forces became prifoners to 
the Amesicans \ but the feamen and (hips were af- 
figned to the French admiral. The Americans oh- 



©H. IX.] NORTH AMERICA, iSj 

tained a fine train of artillery, copffftijsg of 75 pie- 
ces cf brafs ordnance, and 69 iron cannon, how le- 
xers, and mortars. 

On the '2.4th of O&oher, a fleet deftined for the 
relief of lord Cornwallis arrived ciF the Chefapeake 5 
but, en receiving the news of his furrender, they 
returned to New-York. The fleet confiited cf 25 
-flsips of the line, two fifties, and eight frigates. — 
When they appeared off the Chefapeake, the French 
made no manner of movement, though they had 
36 (hips of the line, being perhaps fatisfied wuh 
their prefent fucce-fs. Every argument and perfua- 
fion was ufed with the count de Graffs to indues 
him to aid the combined army in aa operation 
agaitift Charlefton ; hut the advanced feafon, the 
orders of his court, and his own engagements to 
be punctual to a certain time, fixed for his future 
operation, prevented his compliance. HiaiDftruc- 
tions had fixed his departure on the^ijth of Octo- 
ber, and he had already exceeded that time. On 
the 27th the troops under the Marquis St. Simon 
began to embark for the Weil- Indies, and about 
the 15th of November de Graffs failed from the 
Chefapeake. 



1 86 



THE HISTORY OF [cH. IX. 



Memorable Events recorded in this Chap- 
ter. 

Sir Henry Clinton fends 3000 troops to the 
bay of Chefapeake, - - - A. D. 1780. 

The French and Spanifh fleets form a junc- 
tion in the Weft Indies, - - 

Mr. Laurens taken in his paflage to Hol- 
land, ------ 

Sir Jofeph Yorke leaves the Hague, 

Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton detached after 
general Morgan by whom he is defeat- 
ed, A. D. 1781. 

Sir George Rodney and general Vaughan 
take St. Euftatia, St. Martins and Seba, 

The French troops join the Americans un- 
der Wafhingion, - 

Sir Samuel Hood and count de GrafTe en- 



do. 

do. 
do. 



gage, 
Lord Cornwallis repairs to York Town and 

Gloucefter, - 

Is obliged to capitulate, and furrender York 

Town and Gioucefter, - 
Be Graffe fails for the Weft Indies, 



do. 



do. 



do. 
do. 

do. 
do. 



CH.xJ] NORTH AMERICA. Jo? 



CHAPTER X. 

ON the 27th of November, the king of Eng- 
land went to the houfe of peers, and opened the 
feffions of parliament. Warm debates took place 
on account of the ruinous manner in which the 
American war was continued j but Lord North 
and his party, who thought they had not yet car- 
ried things far enough, maintained a ccnfiderable 
majority in the houfe of commons Mr. Burke 
had made feveral motions relative to the releafe of 
Mr. Laurens from the tower. However, at length, 
Mr. Laurens was brought before Lord Mansfield, 
on the laft day of the year, in confequence cf an 
order from the fccretary of (late, and was dischar- 
ged upon certain conditions. 

The naval force of France and Spain in the 
Weft-Indies, in the month of February, 1782, 
amounted to 60 fhips of the line, and their land for- 
ces when joined wsuld have formed a confiderable 
army. Jamaica had no mere than fix incomplete 
battalions of regular troops and the militia of the 
ifhnd to defend it \ and therefore in cafe of atr2ck, 
muft have been fobs conquered. The arrival of 



1 88 THE HISTORY OF [cH. X, 

fir George P.cuppy with twelve fail of the line at 
Barbadoes, and his fubfequcnt junction with Sir 
Samuel Hood's fquadron, together with the arrival 
of three {hips ©f the hue from England a few days 
afterwards, perhaps providentially faved Jamaica 
from falling into the hands of the enemy. The 
Etfgiifh fleet at St. Lucia amounting to 36 (Lips of 
the line, and the force under de Graffe at Martlni- 
co to 34. The metal of the French is always heav- 
ier than that of the Englifh, in equal rates, fo that 
in this point the French had the advantage. 

The van of the Britifli fleet was commanded by 
Sir Samuel Hood, the centre by fir George Rad- 
ney, and the rear by admiral fir Francis Drakt. — 
three divifions of the French feet were under 
count de Graffe, Mens, de Vaudreuil, and Mona. 
de Bougainville. 

On the 8th of April, the French fleet began to 
turn out of Fert Royal harbor early in the morning, 
with a great convoy under their protection, all 
bound to the French or Spaniih ports in Hifpanio- 
la. De Grsne, in order to avoid an encounter on 
his psfiage, meant to keep clofe in under the hi- 
ands, till he had eluded the purfuit of the Ergiifiu 
However their departure from the bay was fofpeed- 
iiy communicated by fignals from the frigates, and 



CH. X.] NORTH- AMERICA. 1 89 

the Englifli fleet was in fuch excellent preparation, 
that all the (hips were clear of Grofs Iflet Bay by 
noon, and purfued with the u«* moil expedition \ fo 
that the French faved only a few hours, by being 
mailers of the time of departure. The Englifli 
gained fight of them under Dominique at night, 
and afterwards regulated the purfuit by fignals. 

Early the next tnoming, count de Graffe formed 
the line of battle, and thereby afforded an opportu- 
nity to his convoy for proceeding on their courfe, 
while he remained to abide the confequences.— 
The van of the Englifh fleet firfl doted with the 
French centre, while the Engliih centre and rear, 
were becalmed. The a£tion commenced about 
nine o'clock on the ninth. The Bar fie ur, Sir Sam- 
uel Hood's own (hip, had at times feven and gen-. 
era!ly three (hips firing upon her, and none of the 
divifion efcaped encountering a difproportionate 
force. The firm and effectual refinance with 
which they fupported all the efforts of the enemy's 
fuperiority, was to the higheft degree glorious. — 
At length the leading fhips of the centre were en- 
abled to come up to their aiTraance. Thefe were 
foon followed by fir George Rodney in the For- 
midable, with his feconds the Namur and the 
Bukej al! of ninety guns % they made and fupport*. 



x<)0 



THE HISTORY OP 



[CH 



ed a moft tremenHous fire. Dc Grade now chan- 
ged the nature oi the acTion, and krpr at fucfa a 
diftance during the remainder of rhe en£2£rmenr, 
as might prevent any thing decifi\c happening. — 
The reft of the Engiiib fleet coming up, de Gr^ffe 
withdrs^w hie (lips froin the action, an<; evaded all 
the efforts of the Englift corr n-aiuiers for its re- 
1 ah Two of the Ficnch fhipe, were fo dama- 
ged that tl 7 were coined to quit the fiVer, and 
|rut into Gnadaloupt:. On rhe fide of the Englifh 
the Roj .1 Oak and the Montague fuffcref! extreme- 
ly ; but they were capable oi being npaiied at fen, 
fo as not to be under the neccflity of quitting the 
flcst. 

On the nth the French fleet weathered Guada- 
loupe, and gained fuch a diflance, that the body cf 
their fleet could only be defcried from the road- 
heads of the Bririih centre, and all hopes of fir 
George Rodney's coming up with them feemed to 
be at sn end. In this critical fituation, one cf the 
French (Lips, which had fufFcred in the s&ien, 
was perceived about noon, to fall cfFccnndcrabJy 
from the reft of the fleet to leeward. This pro- 
duced fignals from the Englifh admiral for a gen- 
eral chafe, which was fo vigorous that the Agam- 
emnon, and fome others cf the head rap ft. of the 



CH. X.] NORTH AMERICA. 19't 

Englifh line, were coming up fo fad with this fhip 
that &e would afl'uredly have been cut oft before 
evening had not her Ggnals and imminent danger 
induced de Grails to bear down with bis whole 
fleet to her affiitance. This movement put it out 
of the power of the French to avoid fighting. The 
■purfuing Eogiifn fell back into their Ration, and a 
-clofelinc was formed. The French sifo prepare*! 
for battle with the greatcft resolution, and the 
night paffbd in preparations on both (lies. 

About feren o'clock in the morning, of the 1 2th 
of April, the battle co.nnaitnced, and was conrinu- 
ed ^ith unremitting fury until near the fame hoot 
in the evening. As the EngHfh came up, they 
ranged flowiy along the French line, and clofe un- 
der their lee. Being To near every fliot took ef- 
fect, and the French (hips being fo full of men, 
the carnage in thern was prodigious. The Formi- 
dable, Admiral Rodney's Blip, fired near 80 broad- 
fides, and it may be fuppofed the reft were not idle. 
The French ftood and returned this dreadful fire 
with the utcnoft firmnefs, each tide Sgfiting, as if 
the honor and fate of their country Were that day 
to be decided. 

Sir George Rodney in the Formidable with his 
feconds the Naixsur and the Duke, and immediate- 



192 THE HISTORY OF [CH,X» 

Iy fupported by the Canada, between twelve and 
one o'clock, hove dire&ly and with full fai! ath- 
wart the French line and fuccefsfuily broke thro', 
about three fhips fhort of the centre, where count 
de Graffe commanded in the Ville de Paris of 1 10 
guns. Being followed and fupported by the re- 
mainder of his divifion, and wearing round clofe 
about the enemy, he effectually feparated their 
line. This bold adventure proved decifive. The 
battle iafted till funfet, for the French fought with 
the greateft bravery. 

The Britifh fleet having now gained the wind 
of the French, their general confuGon was comple- 
ted. Hood's divificn had been long becalmed and 
kept out of action •, but his head fhips and part of 
his centre, as far at lead as the Barfleur, which he 
himfelf commanded, came up at this juncture, 
and contributed to render the vi&ory more deci- 
five. The Csefar, Glorieux and Heftor, fooa 
(truck their colors but not till after they had made 
the mod noble defence. 

Count de Grade was nobly fupported even after 
the line was broken \ and the Diadem* a French 
74, went down by a fingle broadfide, in a gener- 
ous exertion to fave hi an The Ville de Paris 



CH. X.j NORTH AMERICA. I93 

was almoft reduced to a wreck, but de GraHe (till 
held out. At length Hood in the Barfieur ap- 
proached him juft at funfet, and poured in a nroft 
deftru£tive fire. The Ville de Paris fupported all 
thefe fhccks for a quarter of an hour after, when 
fhe {truck to Sir Samuel Rood. It was faid, that 
at the time fhe (truck, there were but three men 
left alive and unhurt on the upper deck, and that 
the count was one of them. 

The Caefar was unfortunately fet on fire, and 
blew up in the night of the adticn. A lieutenant and 
50 Englifh feamen perifhed, with about 400 put- 
oners. The number of the French Gain in this en- 
gagement, and that of the ninth, was computed at 
three thoufand and near double that number woun- 
ded. The fmall fuperiority of Britifh (hips in point 
of numbers, contributed nothing to the fucccfs of 
the day, as more of Hood's divi-Gon than that differ- 
ence amounted to, were prevented coming into ac- 
tion, through the want of wind. The whole loft 
of the Englifb, in killed and wounded in the two 
actions, was fcated only at 1050, of which 253 
were killed on the fpoh 

In the Ville de Paris were founr? 36 chefts of 
tnonty, dcRined to pay the fubfiftcncc of the 
R 



J94 T KE HISTORY OT '[CK, X. 

troops in the defigned attack on Jamaica. Srr 
Samuel Hood being fent in purfuit of the fcattered 
enemy, on the 19th he came up and took the Ja* 
fon and Canton of 64 guns each, and two frigates. 

Thus the French. loft eight (hips of the line : fix 
were in pcfltffion of the Englifh, one had been 
funk, and the Caefar blew up after her capture. — 
The Englifii having joined offcape Tiberoon, and 
the French having no force to the windward, Sir 
George Rodney proceeded with the difabled (hips 
and prizes to Jamaica, as well for their repair, as 
the greater fecurity of the ifland, fhould the com- 
bined fleet dill venture upon the profecution of 
their former deHgn. Sir Samuel Hoed was left 
with about 25 (hips of the line to keep the fea, and 
watch the motions of the enemy. 

Let us now return to North America, where all 
parties feem to be heartily tired of the war. On 
the 5th of May, Gr Guy Carleton arrived at New- 
ark, and on the 7th he wrote to general Wa(h- 
ington, and fent him fome public papers, that his 
excellency might learn from them, the difpofition 
that prevailed in the government and people of 
.Great- Britain, relative to the making of a p&ace 
with America. 



CH. X.] NORTH AMERICA, 1^5 

The Britiih adminiftration haviog refolved upon 
abandoning all offenfive operations in America, 
the fchcme of evacuating all the weak* ft pofts in 
the United States was adopted. Accordingly, on 
the iith of July, Savannah was evacuated, and 
the Americans immediately took pofTcffion of it,, 
the works and towa being left perfeft. 

On the 14th of December, general Leflie, who 
commanded at Charlefton, completed the embark- 
ation of his troops, and quitted that town. Gen. 
Wayne, with the legion and fight infantry, had 
been before their works for feverai days, by order 
of general Greene. It was hinted io him from 
general Leflie, through a certain medium, that if 
they were permitted to embark without interrup- 
tion, every care fliould be taken for the preforma- 
tion of the town. Wayne w,as directed to accede 
to the propofa), the Britiih alfo agreeing not to fire 
on the town after getting on board, The condi- 
tions being fully underftood by both panics, 
Charlefton, was evacuated and pcffeffed without " 
the leaf! confufion, the American advance follow- 
ing clofe on the Brkiih rear, The governor wss 
conduced into his capital the fame day ; the civil 
police eftablifhed the day following, and on the?. 



J 96' THE HISTORY Of [ch. X. 

third the town was opened for bufinefs. On the 
*7th the Btituh creilei the bar, and went to fea. 

Every thing now feemed to announce the ap- 
proach of peace. The American commiffioners 
expedited the negociaiion with the utmolt afkdui- 
ty, and on the 30th November, provifional articles 
were agreed upon and figned, to take effe£t when-. 
tvkt terms of peace ihouid be finally fettled with 
the court of Fiance. The bufiaefs was finifhed fo 
privately and unexpectedly that the ministers and 
ambaffadcrs, as well as others in and about the 
court of Verfailles, were furprifed upon hearing 
the news. 

We mutt not here avoid mentioning an unfor- 
tunate event, which happened at the dofe of the 
full more unfortunate American war. Ten men 
of war, including count de Graffe's Clips, with a 
large fleet of merchantmen from Jamaica, fufifered 
exceedingly by a tremendous gale of wind off 
Newfoundland, on the 17th of September. The 
Yille de Paris and the Gloricux foundered, and 
on ■? one man of the compliment of both (hips ef- 
dftp$H to tell the melancholy tale.— The He&cr 
a;k> funk \ but being defcried in time by a fnovy 
that made towards them, the crew were fayed.— 



CH. X.J !?ORTH AMERICA'; J€}J 

The Ramiiies went down, but her people were fa- 
yed by the merchantmen in company. The Cen- 
taur was likewife loft, and all her company, except 
twelve, with the captain, who got into the only re- 
maining boat. They traverfed a fpace of near 8o@ 
miles on the Atlantic ocean, without compafs or 
quadrant, and with a blanket for a fail. They had 
only two bifcuits divided among them every twen- 
ty-four hours ; and as much water during that 
fpace to every man as the neck of a wine bottle 
broken off would hold. At the expiration of fix- 
teen days when the lad divifion of bifcuit and wa- 
ter had been made, to their inexptefiibie joy, they 
difcovered the Portuguefe Iffahd of Fa'yal, where 
they fafely arrived at night, and received every af- 
fittance their melancholy fituatibn demanded. 

On the 3d of September, 1783, the definitive - 
treaties between Great-Britain, France, and Spain, 
were figned at Verfailles by the refpe£iive plenipo- 
tentiaries authorifed for that purpofe. On ths 
fame day, the definitive treaty with Great-Britain 
and the United States of America was alfo ilgned 
at Paris, by David Hartley, Efq. the Britiih pleni- 
potentiary, and John Adams* Benjamin Franklirr, 
2nd John Jay, the plenipotentiaries of the faid 

ftates. 

R z 



1 9S THE HISTORY OF [cH, X. 

By tint articles of this treaty, his Britannic ma* 
jefty acknowledged the independence of the Thir- 
teen United States of America, towit, New-Hamp- 
fhire, MniTachufetts, Rhode-Ifland, Connecticut, 
New-Yovk, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Delaware, 
Ivlaryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro- 
lina and Georgia, He alfo relinquifhed all claims 
to the government of the faid States, and confent- 
ed to treat with them as a free and independent 
people. Their boundaries were alfo fettled, and 
they were allowed the liberty of fifliing and drying 
fifli as ufual on the banks of Newfoundland. 

The particulars of the treaty between Great- 
Britain, France and Spain, will be found in our 
hiitory of England, to which it more properly be- 
longs. 

Thus ended the unhappy American war, which 
added to the national debt of the mother country, 
one hundred and twenty million pounds fterling, 
befiJes the lofs of many thoufands of our officers, 
foidiers and feamen, to the difgrace and infamy 
of thofe miniiters, who advifed and carried it on, 
contrary to the general voice of the people of 
Great-Britain 1 



ch. x.j north america, ig9 

Memorable Events recorded in t§is Chap- 
ter. 

Mr. Laurens difcharged from his confine- 
ment in the Tower of London, A. D. 1781 

The fleets of Sir George Rodney and Count 
de Graffs meet in the Weft-Indies, A. D. 1782 

They engage, and Count de Grafie is de- 
feated and taken, - - - - go. 

Savannah evacuated by the Bxitifh forces, do. 

And afterwards Charicilon in South Caro- 
Una, - - - do. 

Provifional articles of peace figned between 
the Britlfh and American commuTioners, do. 

The definitive treaties between Great-Brit- 
ain, France, Spain and America fign- 
ed, - - - ' - A. D, 17S3 



APPENDIX. 



CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES. 

WE, The People of the United States, in order to 
form a more perfeti Union, eftabUlh Juiliee, x Ha- 
rare do.Tie{xic Tranquillity, provide for the com- 
mon Defence, promote the general welfare, and 
fecure the Bieilings of Liberty to ourfelves and 
our pofterity, DO ordain and establish this 
CONST! TU HON for the UN LTED S FATES 
OF AMERICA- 
ARTICLE L 

S&Sim I. ALL leglflative powers herein grant* 
td fliail be vefted in a Congrefs of the United 
States, which (hail confiit of a Senate and. Hgufc. 
of Representatives. 

SeH. 2. The houfe of reprefentatives (hail be 
compofed of members chofen every fecond year by 
the people ef the kvtral ftatea 3 and. the ekdors 



202 CONSTITUTION OP 

in each (late fhall have the qualifications r^quifite 
for elt&ors of the mod numerous Drauch of the 
(late legiflature* 

No peifon fhall be a rfprefentarive who (h^ll net 
have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and 
been feven years a citizen o\ the United States, and 
who (hail not, uhen eledled, bi an inhabitant of 
that fiatc in which he fhall oc chofen. 

Reprefentatives, and ^irecfl taxts fiiall be appor- 
tioned among the feveral (bates which maybe indu- 
ced within this union, according to their refpec- 
tive numbers, which (hail be determined by adding 
to the whole number of free perfens, including 
thofe bound fo fervice foT a term of years, and ex- 
cluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other 
perfons. The adiual enumeration fhiill be made 
within three years after the firlh meeting of the 
Congrefs of the United States, and within every 
fubfequent term of ten years, in fuch manner as 
they (hall by law direft. The nuarsber of reprefeni- . 
Stives fhall not exceed one for every thirty thou- 
fand, but each ftate.ftall have at lead one repre- 
fentatiye j and until fuch enumeration (hall.be 
made, the ftate of New-Hampfliire fhall be entitled 
to choofc three ; Msffkchufctts, eight j Rhcde-Iil- 



THE UNITED STATES. £0^ 

and and Providence Plantations, one; Connecti- 
cut, five; New-York, fix; New-Jerfey, four; 
Pennfylvania, eight •, Delaware, one ; Maryland, 
fix ; Virginia, ten ; North Carolina, five ; South 
Carolina, five; and Georgia, three. 

When vacancies happen in the reprefentation 
from any Hate, the executive authority thereof £hail 
jffue writs of election to fill fuch vacancies. 

The hotffe of reprefentatives fhall choofe their 
fpeaker and other officers ; and (hall have the folc 
power of impeachment. 

Sec?. 3. The fenate of the United States (ball he 
compofed of two fenators from each (late, ehofea 
by the legiflature thereof, for fix years ; and each 
fenator (hall have one vote. 

Immediately after they (hall he afTembled, in ecn- 
fequence of the firft election, they (hall be divided 
as equally as may be into three claffes. The feats 
of the fenators of the firft clafs fhall be vacated at 
the expiration of the fscond year 3 of the f^cond 
clafs at the expiratkm of the fourth year, and of 
the third clafs at the expiration of the fixt^ year, 
fo that one third may be chofen every fecon » year: 
an.Vif vacancies happen by refignation, or other* 
wife, during the recefs of the legislature of any 



204 



CONSTITUTION 07 



flate, the executive thereof may make temporary 
appointments until the next meeting of the legifla- 
ture, which fhall then fill fuch vacancies. 

No perfon (hall be a fenator who fhall not have 
attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine 
years a citizen of the United States, and who fhall 
not, when ele£led, be an inhabitant of that ftate for 
which he fhall be chofen. 

The vice- prefident of the United States fhall be 
prefident of the fenate, but (hall have no vote un- 
lefs they be equally divided. 

The Senate fhall choofe their other officers and 
slfo a prefident pro tempore in the abfence of the 
vice- prefident, or when he fhall exercife the office 
of prefident of the United States. 

The fenate fhall have the fole power to try all im- 
peachments. When fitting for that purpofe, they 
{hail be on oath or affirmation. When the prefident 
of the United States is tried, the chief Juflicc fhall 
prefide : And no perfon fhall be convi&ed without 
the concurrence of two thirds of the members 
prefent. 

Judgment in cafes ff impeachment (hall not ex« 
fend further than to removal from office, and dif- 



THE UNITED STATES. 205 

qualification to hold and enjoy any office of lienor, 
truft or profit under the United States ; but the 
party convi&ed (hall neverthelefs be liable and fub- 
jea to indi<3ment, trial,judgment and pumfhment 
according to law* 

Sefi. 4. The tifnes^ p-aces and manner or hold- 
ing ele&iorrs for fenators and reprefentatives, fhall 
be prefcribed in each ftate by the legiflaturc there- 
of ; but the congrefs may at any time by law make 
or alter fuch regulations, except as to the places of 
choofing fen store. 

The congrefs (hall aflemWc at lead once in eve- 
ry year, and fuch meeting {hall be on the firft Mon- 
day in December, unlefs they fhall by Jaw appoint 
a different day. 

Se&, 5. Each houfe fhall be the judge of the 
ele&ions, returns and qualifications of its own 
members, and a majority of each fnali conftitute a 
quorum to do bufmefs ; but a fmaller number may 
adjourn from day to day, and may beauthorifed to 
compel the 3< tendance of abfent members, in fuch 
manner, and under fuch penalties as each houfe 
may provide. 

Each houfe may determine the rules of its pro- 
ceedings, puuiQt its members for diforderly behav- 
3 



20 6 



CONSTITUTION OF 



iour, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, ex^ 
pel a member. 

Each houfe fhall keep a journal of its proceed* 
ings, and from time to time pubiifh the fame, ex- 
cepting fuch parts as may in their judgment require 
fecrecy : and the ye3S and nays of the members of 
either houfe on any qucfiion fhall at the defire of 
one fifth of thole prefent, be entered on the Journal. 

Neither houfe, during the feflion of Congrefj?, 
fhall without the confer:* of the other, adjourn for 
more than three days, nor to any other place than 
that in which the two houfes fhall be fitting. 

Sefl* 6. The fenators and reprefentatives fhall 
receive a compenfation for their fervices, to be as- 
certained by law, and paid out of the treafury of 
the United States. They fhall in all cafes, except 
treafon, felony and breach of the peace, be privi- 
ledged from arrefi: during their attendance at the 
feflion of their refpe£tive houfes, and in going to 
or returning from the fame ; and for any fpeeck 
or debate in either houfe, they fhall Dot be quef- 
tioned in any other place. 

No Senator or reprefentative fiiall, during the 
time for which he was eleiied; be appointed to any 



THE UNITED STATES. 207 

Civil office under the authority of the United States^ 
which ihail have been created, or the emoluments 
whereof fhaii have been increafed during fuch 
time i and no perfon holding any office under the 
United States, ftiali be a member oi either houfe 
during his continuance in office. • 

SeB, 7. All bills for raifing revenue fliall origi- 
nate in the houfe of representatives 5 but the fen- 
ate may propofe or concur with amendments as on 

other bills* 

Every bill which (hall have pafied the houfe of 
reprcfentatives and the fenate, (hall, before it be- 
cornea law, be prefented to the prefident of the 
United States— if he approve he (hall flgn it, but 
if not he (hall return it, with his ohje&ions, to 
that houfe ia which it (hall have originated, who 
(hall enter ti\t objeflions at large on their journal, 
and proceed to reconuder -it. If after fuch recon- 
fideration two thirds of that houfe (hall agree to 
pafs the bill, it fliall be fent, together with the ob- 
jections, to the other houfe, by which it (hall like- 
wife be rcccnfidered, and if approved by two 
thirds of that houfe, it (hall become a law. But 
in all fuch cafes the votes of both houfes ihail be 
determined by yeas and nays, and the names of 
the perfons voting for and againfl the bill (hall be 



208 CONSTITUTION OF 

entered on the journal of each houfe refpe&ively. 
If any bill {hall not be returned by the prefident 
within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it {hall 
have been prefented to him, the fame (hall be a 
law, in like manner as if he had figned it, unlefs 
thecongrefs by their adjournment prevent its re- 
turn, in which cafe it fhal! not be a law. 

Every order, refolulicn or vote to which the 
concurrence of the fenate and houfe of reprefenta- 
tives may be neceiTary (except on a queftion of ad- 
journment) fhall be prefented to the prefident ef 
the United States ; and before the fame fhall take 
efFcdi, ftiall be approved by him, or, being difap- 
proved by him, fhall be repaffed by two thirds of 
the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives, according 
to the rules and limitations prescribed in the cafe 
of a bill, 

Se8> 8. The congrefs fhall have power 
To lay and coileffc taxes, duties, impofts and ex- 
cises, to pay the debts and provide for the common 
defence and general welfare of the United States * 9 
but all duties, impofts and excifes fliall be uniform 
throughout the United States \ 

To borrow money oa the credit of the United 
States; 



THE UNITED STATES. $0^ 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and 
among the fever*! dates, and u ith the Indian tribes j 

To eftabjifii an uniform rule of naturalization, 
and uniform laws on the fobj-£l of bankruptcies 
throughout the United States % t 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and 
of foreign coin, and fix the ftandard of weights 
and meafuresi 

To provide for the puniihment of counterfeiting 
the fecuritiesand current coin of the United Statesi 

To eflabliili pofl offices and poft roads 5 

To promote the progrefs of fcierice and ufefui 
arts, by fecuring for limited times to authors and 
inventors the excJ&Gve right to their refpettive 
writings and difcoveries \ 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the fupreme 
court 1 

To define and panifh piracies and felonies com- 
mitted on the high feas, and offences againfi the 
law of nations | 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and re=» 
prifal, and make rules concerning captures on land 
and water 5 

To raife and fupport armies, but no appropria- 
tion of money to that ufe lhall be for a longer 
term than two years ; 

To- provide and maintain a navy 5 
S a . 



210 



CONSTITUTION OF 



To make rules for the government and regula- 
tion of the land and naval forces 5 

To provide for calling forth the militia to exe- 
cute the luws of the union, fupprefs infurredtions 
and repel invafiens ; 

To provide for organizing, arming and difcipli- 
iring the militia, and for governing fuch part of 
thera as may be employed in the ferviee of the Uni- 
ted States, referving to the dates refpeftively, the 
appointment of the officers, and the authority of 
training the militia according to the difcipline pre- 
ferred by congvefs; 

To exercife exclufive legiflation in all cafes what- 
foever, over fuch diftri£l (not exceeding ten miles 
fquare) as may, by csffion of particular dates, and 
the acceptance of congrefs, become the feat of the 
government of the United States, and to exercife 
like authority over all places purchafed by the con- 
fent of the legidature of ihe date in which the 
fame {hail be, for the ereftion of forts, magazines, 
arfsnals, dock-yards and other needful buildings ; 

And, to make all laws which (hall be necefiary 
and proper for carrying into execution the forego- 
ing powers, and all other powers veded by this 
conftitution in the government of the United 
States, or &a any department or. officer thereof, 



THE UNITED STATES. 211 

Seel. 9. The migration or importation of fuch 
perfons as any of the dates now exifting ihall think 
proper to admit, fhall not be prohibited by the con- 
grefs prior to the year one thoufand eight hundred 
and eight, but a tax or duty may be impofed on 
fuch importation, not exceeding ten dollars for 
each perfon. 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus {hall 
laot be fufpended, unlefs when, in cafes of rebell- 
ion or invafion, the public fafety may require it. 

No bill of attainder or tn post facfo law ihall be 
paiTed. 

No capitation, or other direct, tax, (hall be laid 
unlefs in proportion to the cenfus or enumeration 
herein before dire&ed to be taken* 

No tax or duty fhall be laid on articles exported 
from any ftate. No preference ihall be given by 
any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports 
of one ftate over thofe of another \ nor fhall vef- 
fels bound to or from, one ftate, be obliged to en- 
ter, clear, or pay duties in another. 

No money fhall be drawn from the treafary, but 
in confequence of appropriations made by law ,— • 
and a regular ftatement and account of receipts 



212 



CONSTITUTION OF 



and expenditures of all public money {hall be pub« 
lifhed from time to time. 

No title of nobility (hall be granted by the Uni- 
ted States : and no perfon holding any office of 
profit or truft under them fliaJI, without the con- 
feet of the congrefs, accept of any prefenr, emolu- 
ment, office, or title of any kind whatever, from 
any king, prince or foreign date. 

Sefi. 10. No (late Dial] enter into any treaty, al- 
liance or confederation ; grant letters cf marque 
and reprifal ; coin money ; emit bills of credit ; 
make any thing but gold and Giver coin a tender 
in payment of debts 5 pafs any bill of attainder, 
ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation 
of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. 

No (late (hall, without the confent of the con- 
grefs* lay any irnpoftsor duties on imports or ex- 
ports, except what may be abfolutely neceffarj for 
executing its infpe£iion laws, and the nrtt produce 
of ail duties and imp-oils, laid by any (late on im- 
ports or esports, ffvall be for the ufe of the treafu- 
rv of the United States \ and all fuch laws (hall be 
fubjeft to the revifion and control of the congrefs. 
No (late (hall, without the confent of congrefs, lay 
any duty of tonnage, keep troops or fiiips of wax 



#HS UNITED STATBS. 2IJ 

in time of peace, enter into any agreement or com- 
pact with another (late, or with a foreign power, 
or engage in war, unlets a£tually invaded, or in 
fuch imminent danger as will not admit of delay. 

ARTICLE II. 
SeBion i. The executive power fhall be vetted in 
a prefident of the United States of America. He 
(lull hold his office during the term of four years, 
and, together with the viee«prefident, chofen for 
the fame term, be elected as fellows : 

Each (late (hail appoint, in fuch manner as the 3e- 
gifhture may dire£i:, a number of ek£iors, equal to 
the whole number of fenators and reprefentauves 
to which the ftate may be entitled in the congrefs 5 
but no fenator or representative, or perfon holding 
an office, of truft or profit, under the United 
States, (hall be appointed an ekvior. 

The de&ors Cull meet in thdr refpeSive ftate?, 
and vote by ballot for two perfons, of whom one 
at leaft iliall not be an inhabitant of the fame ftate 
with themfelyes. And they (hall make a lilt of all 
the perfons voted for and of the number of votes 
for each \ which lift they {hall fign and certify 
%ni tranfmit fealed to the feat of the government 
ie United States, direfled to the prefident of 



214 CONSTITUTION OP 

the fenate \ the prefident of the fenate (haH, in the 
prefenee of the fen2te and houfe of reprcfentativts 1 
open aii the certificates, and the votes (hall then 
be counted, The perfen having the greateft num- 
ber of votes fhall be the prefident, if fuch number 
be a majority cf the whole number of electors ap- 
pointed ; and if there be more than one who have 
fuch majority, and have an equal number of votes, 
then the houfe of representatives fhali immediately 
chcofe by ballot one of them for prefident % and if 
no per fori have a majority, then from the five high- 
eft on the lift, the faid houfe (hail in like manner 
choofe the prefident. But in chocf.ng the pres- 
cient the votes fhall be taken by ftatet, the repre- 
jfentation from each (late having one vote 5 a quo- 
rum for this purpofe {hall confift of a member 
cr members from two thirds of the fbtes, and a 
majority of all the dates (hall be neceffary to a 
choice. In every cafe, after the choice of the pref- 
ident, the perfon having the greateft number of 
votes of the eie&ors* fhall be the vice prefident. — 
But if there fhall remain two or more who hsve 
equal votes, the fenate (ball choofe from them by 
ballot the vice prefident. [See amendments.] 

The congref^ may determine the time of chooC. 
ing the electors, and the day on which they fliail 



THE UNITED STATES. 21 5 - 

give their votes; which day fhall be the fame 
throughout the United Spates. 

No petfon, except a natural born citizen, or a 
citizen of the United States, at the time of the 
adoption of this conftitution, fhali be eligible to 
the office of prefident ; neither '(hall any psrfon be 
eligible to that office who (hall not have attained 
to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen 
years a reGderit within the United States. 

In cafe of the removal of the prefident from of* 
fice, or of his death, rcfignation or inability to dif* 
charge the powers and duties of the faid office, 
the fame fhal! devolve on the^ vice prefident, and 
the congrefs may by law provide for the cafe of re- 
moval, death, refignation, cr inability, both of the 
prefident and vice prefident, declaring what officer 
fnall then a£l as prefident, and fuch officer (hall a£c 
Bccordingly, until the difability be removed, or a 
prefident {hall be elefted. 

The pret!dent (hall,, at Rated time*, receive for 
his fervices a compenfaticn, which fhall neither be 
increafed nor dimifrifbed curing the period for 
which lie fhall hg ; v« been defied, and he {hall not 
teceive within that period any other emolument 
from the United States, or any of them. 



Zl6 CONSTITUTION OF 

Before he enter on the execution of his office* 
he fhall take the following oath or affirmation. 

" I do folemnly fwear (or affirm) that I will 
" faithfully execute the effice of prtfident of the 
M United States, and will to the beft of my ability, 
w preferve, protedl: and defend the confiittiticn of 
" the United State*" 

Seel. 2. The president (hall be commander in 
chief of the srroy and navy of the United States, 
zxiq of the militia of the fcveral dates, when cal- 
led into the a&ual fcrvice of the United States; 
he may require the opinion, in writing, of the 
principal officer in each of the executive depart- 
ments, upoti ary fubjeft relating to the duties of 
their refpcclive offices, and be fliall have power to 
grant reprieves and pardons for offences agairft 
the United States, except in cafes of impeachment. 

He (hall have power, by and with the advice 
and confent or the fenate, to make treaties, provi- 
ded two thirds of the fenators prefent concur j and 
he fhall nominate, and by and with the advice and 
confent of tne fen^te, ftiaM appoint ambaffadors, / 
Other public mimftcrs and cbnfuts, judges of the 
fu-prercc court, ani a 1 other officers of the United 
States, whole appointments are aot herein other* 



THE UNITED STATES, 2 1" 

wife provided for, and which fhall be eftabjithed 
by law. But the congrefs may by law veil the ap- 
pointment of fuch inferior officers as they think 
proper in the prefident alone, in the courts of law, 
or in the heads of departments. 

The prefident fhall have power - to fill up all va- 
cancies that may happen daring the rece-fs of the 
fenate, by granting commiffions which (Hall expire 
at the end of their next fefiioH-. 

&<5?. 3. Ke (hall from time to time give to the 
congrefs information of the (late of the union, and 
recommend to their confideration filch meafures as 
he flisll judge neceffary and expedient $ he may on 
extraordinary occafions, convene both houfes, or 
either of them, and in cafe of difagreement be- 
tween them with refpeQ to the time of adjourn- 
ment, he may adjourn them to fuch time as he 
fliali think proper; he fhall receive ambaffadora 
and other public minifters ; he fhall take care that 
the laws be faithfully executed-, and fhall commii- 
fion all the officers of the United States. 

Seft. 4. The prefident, vice prefident, and all civ- 
il officers of the United Slates (hall be removed 
from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, 
treafon, bribery, or other high crimes and rcifde- 
meanors. 



2'iS CONSTITUTION OK 

ARTICLE III. 

&•<??. i. The judicial power of the United States 
(hall be veiled in one fupreme court, and in fuch 
inferior courts, as the congrefs may from time to 
time ordain and edablifh. The judges, both of the 
fupreme and inferior courts, (hall hold their offices 
curing good behaviour, and (hall, at dated times, 
receive for their fervices, a compenfation, which 
fnall not be diminished during thtir continuance in 
office. 

Sec?. 2. The judicial power fhall extend to all 
cafes, in law and equity, atifing under tins cendi- 
tution,jhe laws of the United States, and treaties 
made, or which fhall be made, under their author- 
ity ; to all cafes affe£ting anibafladors, other public 
minifters and confuls ; to all cafes of admiralty 
and maritime jurifdicVion - 9 to controverfies to 
which the United States dial! be a party ; to con- 
troverfies between two or more dates, between a 
(late and citizens of another date, between citi- 
zens of different dates, between citizens of the 
fsrne date claiming lands under grants of different 
dates, and between a date, or tke citizens thereof, 
and foreign dates* citizens or fubjefts. [See 
amendments, Art. XL] 

In all cafes a&eUng ambaffaddrs, other -public 



THE UNITED STATES. 2 f$ 

minifters and confuls, and thofe in which a ftate 
fhall be a party, the fupreme court (hall have orig- 
inal jurifdi£Uon. In all other cafes before men- 
tioned, the fupreme court fhall have appellate juiif- 
di&ion, both as to law and fad, with fuch excep- 
tions, and under fuch regulations, as the congrefo 
fhall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cafes of im* 
peaehment, fiiail be by jury ;.■ and fuch trial fhaii 
be held in the ftate where the faid crimes fhall have 
been committed \ but when not committed within 
any ftate, the trial fhall be at fuch place or places 
as the congrefs may by law have dire£ied. 

S^7. 3. Treafon againft the United States, {hall 
cotifift only in levying war ogainft them, or in ad- 
hering to their enemies, giving them aid and conv 
fort. — No perfon fhall be convicted of treafon un. 
lefs on the teftimony of two witnefles to the faras 
evert acl, or on confeffion in open cesn. 

The congrefs fhall have power to declare the 
punishment pf treafon, but no attainder of treafon 
Hull work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, ex- 
cept during the life of the perfon attainted. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Seffion 1. Full faith and credit fhall be given la 
*ach ftate to the public ads, record^ and judical 



220 CONSTITUTION Of 

proceedings of every other (late. And the con- 
grefs may, by general laws, prefcribe the manner 
in which fuch a£b, records and proceedings (hall 
be proved, and the effedt thereof. 

Seel. 2. The citizens of each date (hall be enti- 
tled to ail privileges and immunities of citizens in 
the feveral dates. 

A perfon charged in any (late with treafon, fel- 
ony, or other crime, who fhall flee from judice, 
and be found in another (late, fhall on demand of 
the executive authority of the (late from which he 
fled be delivered up, to be removed to the date 
having jurifdi&ion of the crime. 

No perfon held to fervice cr labor in one date, 
v.iidzx the laws thereof, cfcaping into another, fhall 
in confequence of any law or regulation therein, 
be difcharged from fuch fervice cr labor j but fhall 
be delivered up on claim of the party to whom 
fuch fervice or labor may be due. 

Sec}. 3. New States may be admitted by the con- 
grefs into this union ; but no new dates fhall be 
formed or ere£led within the jurifdi&ion of any 
other ftste \ nor any date be formed by the junc- 
tion of two cr more dates, or parts of dates, with- 
out the con fen t of the legiflatures of the dates 
concerned, as well as of the eongrefe, 



TtfE UNITED STATES. 221 

The congrefs (hall have power to difpofe of, and 
make ai! needful rales and regulations* refpediing 
the territory er other property belonging to the 
United States : and nothing in thi's~co»ilkutiou 
(hall be fo confirued, as to prejudice any claims of 
the United States, or of any particular flate. 

Seft. 4. The United States (hall guarantee to ev- 
ery (late in this union, a republican form of gov- 
ernment: and (hall prote£t each of them againft 
invafion— »and on application of the'legiilature, or 
of the executive (when the leghlature cannot bs 
eenvened) againft domeftie violence. ■ 

ARTICLE V. 

The congrefs, whenever two thirds of both hcu»: 
fes fha!l deem it neceffary, {hall propofe amend- 
meats to this conftitution, or, en the application 
of the legislatures of two thirds of the feverai iistes* 
{hall call a convention for propoiing- amendments,. 
which in either cafe, (hall be valid, to all intents 
and purpofes, as part of this conftitution, when 
ratified by the legiiktores of three fourths of the 
feverai Rates, or by conventions in three four bs 
thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifica- 
tion may be propofed by the congrefs 3 provided 
that no amendment* which maybe made pk: tc 
T z 



222 CONSTITUTION OF 

the year one thoufand eight hundred and eight, 
fhali in any manner affeft the firft and fourth clauf- 
es in the ninth fetiion of the firft article ; and that 
no (rate, without its ccnfent, (hall be deprived of 
its equal fuffiragc in the fenate. 

ARTICLE VI. 

All debts contra&ed and engagements entered 
into, before the adoption of this conftitution, fliall 
be 2G valid againfl the United States under this 
Conftitution, as under the confederation. 

This eonflitution, and the laws of the United 
States which (hall be made in purfuance thereof \ 
and a!l treaties made, or which fhdl be made, un- 
utx the authority of the United States, (hall be the 
fupreme law of the land \ and the judges in every 
ftste (hall be bound thereby, any thing in the con- 
itirurion or laws of any (late to the contrary not- 
withiUnding. 

The fenators and reprefentatives before mention- 
ed, and the members of the feveral ftate legisla- 
tures^ and all executive and judicial officers, both 
of the United States and of the feveral dates, (hall 
be bound by oath or affirmation, to fupport this 
conftitution \ but no religious tell (hall ever be re- 
quired as a qualification to any office or public 
trull und^r the United States. 



THE UNITED STATES, ,023 

ARTICLE VII. 
The ratification of the conventions of nine Jhtes 
fhall be fufficient for the cSablitliment of this con- 
ftitution between the flates fo ratifying the fame. 

Done in conventions by the unanimous confeni of the 
States pre ferd^ the fevenieenih day of September, in 
the year of our Lord ens thoufand feven hundred and 
efghiy-feven^ and of the Independence of the United 
States of America the twelfth* In witnefs where" 
of v*e have hereunto fuhferibed our names. 

Go: WASHINGTON, Prfident, 

and Deputy from Virginia. 

Ncw-Hampfiire — John Langdon, Nicholas Gil- 
man. Majftchufttts — Nathaniel Gotham, Ruftss 
King, Conneclicvii — Wm, Ssnvi. Jchnfon, Roger 
Sherman. Delaware — Geo Read, Gunning Bed- 
ford, jan. John Dkkinfon, Richard BalTett, Jacob 
Broom. Maryland — James M'Henry, Dan. of St. 
Thos. Jenifer, Dan. Carroll. Ne-w-Tcrh — Alex- 
ander Hamilton. New-jerfey-~-\h r m. Livingfton, 
David Breatley, Wm. Paterfon, Jona. Dayton. 
Pennjylvanla — 3. Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Rob. 
Morris, Geo. Ciy^ner, Thos. FitzOmons, Tared In- 
getfol!, James Wilfon, Gouv, Morns. Virginia--* 
John Blair, James Madifon, jun. North Carolina—* 
Wm^JBioRntj RUh'd Dobbs Spaight, Ku^fa Wil- 



224 CONSTITUTION OF 

liamfon. South Carolina—]. Rutledge, Charles 
Cotes. Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler. 
Georgia — William Few, Abm BJiwin. 

Attcft, William Jackson, Secretary, 

In Convention^ Monday^ Sept. 17, 1787. 
Prcfent— The States of New-Hamp(hire, Mafia- 
chufetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton, from New- 
York, New-jerfey^ennfylvania, Delaware, Ma- 
ryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Caroli- 
na, 2nd Georgia* 

Resolved, 
THAT the preceding conftitution be laid before 
the United States in congrefs affcmbled, and that 
it is the opinion of this convention, that it {hould 
afterwards be fubmitfed to a convention of dele- 
gates chofen in each ftate by the people thereof, 
umier the recommendation of its legifiature, for 
their affeiH and ratification ; and that each conven- 
tion affent-ing to and ratifying the tame, fnould give 
notice thereof to the United States in congrefs af- 
(erabled. 

Refolvedf That it is the opinion of this conven- 
tion, that as foon as the conventions of nine ftahrs 
(hall have ratified this conftitmioir, the United 



THE UNITED STATES, $2$ 

States in congref? a fie m bled fhould fix a cky e>n 
which electors iliould be appointed by the ftates 
which fhall have ratified the fame, and a day on 
which the ele&ors fhould afiemble to vote for the 
prefident, and the time and place for commencing 
proceedings under this conftitution. — That after 
fuch publication the electors fhould be appointed^- 
and the fenators and reprefcntativeB elected : Thai 
the electors fhould meet on the day fixed for the 
election of the prefident, and fhould tranfmii their 
votes certified, figned, feaied, and directed, as ihs 
conftitution requires, to the fecretary of the Uni- 
ted States in congrefs aflimbled ; that the fenators 

1 renrefenmives fhould cjpyjng at the time and 
place afiign-ed ; that the fenators fhould appoint a 
prefident of the fenate, for the fole purpofe of re- 
ceiving, opening and counting the votes for prefi- 
dent ; and, that after he fhall be chofen, the cc>n<*. 
grefs, together with the prefident, fhould without 
delay, prcceed to esecute this confutation. 
By the unanimous order oj r the Convention 9 

Go : . WASHINGTON, Prefident. 

William Jackson, Secretary. 

• «•***©$•©**>••>- 
In Convention , Sept. 17, 1 787. 
Sir, 
WE have now the honor to fubaut to the con- 



fl6 CONSTITUTION OT 

federation of the United States in cengrefs afleffl- 
bled, that conftitution which has appeared to us 
the mod advifable. 

The friends of out country have long feen and 
defired, that the power of making war, peace and 
treaties, that of levying money and regulating com- 
merce, and the correfpondent executive and judi- 
cial authorities fhould be fully and efteSually veil- 
ed in the general government of the union j but 
the impropriety of delegating fuch extenfive truft 
to one body of men is evident. Hence refulfs the 
neceffity of a different organization. 

It is cbvioufiy impracticable, in the federal gcr- 
crnment of thefe dates, to fecure all rights of inde- 
psndervt fovereigniy to each, and yet provide for 
tbe intereft and fafety of all : individuals entering 
into fociety, muft give up a /hare of liberty to pre- 
ferve the reft. The magnitude of the facrifice 
ixiuft depend as well on Bttration a* £ circurr (tans* 
28 on the objetl to be obtained; It is zt z\\ tiroes 
difficult to draw with preci&bn the line between 
tbofe rights which muft be (urrende>f rf, and thofc 
^hich may be referred ; and on the r.refent occa- 
fion this difficulty was increafed bj a difference 
among the feveral flares as to their fituatipnjextcnt, 
habits and particular intercity 






THE UNITED STATES. %2ff 

In all our deliberations-on this fuhjefl; we kept 
fleadily in our view, that which appears to us the 
greateft intereii of every true American, the con- 
folidation of our union, in which is involved our 
profpenty, felicity, fafety, perhaps our national ex- 
igence. This important corjfidef3tion,ferioij{]y and 
■deeply impreffed on our minds, led each Hate ia 
th? convention to be lefs rigid on points of inferior 
magnitude, than might have been otherwife expect- 
ed $ and thus the conftitutien, which we now pre- 
fect, is the refult of a fpirit of amity, and of that 
mutual deference and conceflion which the peculiar- 
ity of our political fituation rendered indifpenfible. 

That it will meet the full and entire approbation 
of every ftate is not perhaps to be expeSed ; but 
each will doubtlefs cenfider, that had her intereft 
alone been confulted, the confluences might have 
been particularly difegrceable or injurious f c 
ere ; that it is liable to as few exceptions as could 
-xeafonably have been expc£ted^ we hope and be- 
lieve ; that it may promote the lading welfare cf 
that country fo dear to us a!!, and fecure her free- 
dom and happinefs, is our mod ardent with. 
With great refpeS 9 tve have the honor tc be f jit % 

Tour Excellency \r mast ohedlent and humble jervanis^ 
Go: WASHI8GT0N, Prefident. 
By unanimous order of the Convention, 

His Excellency the Prejidtnt cf Conerefc* 



2-2 8 CONSTITUTION OF 

AMENDMENTS. 

ARTICLE I. 
CONGRESS (hall make no law rcfpcQing an 

eftabliiliment of religion, or prohibiting the free 
exercife thereof; or abridging the freedom or 
fpeech ©r of the prefs ; or the tight of the people 
peaceably to aiTemble, and to petition the govern- 
ment for a rcdrefs of grievances. 

ARTICLE If. 
A well regulated militia being necefiary to the 
fecurity of a free (late, the right of the people to 
keep and bear ^xms (hall not be infringed. 

ARTICLE III. 
No foldier (hall in time of peace be quartered in 
any houfe, without the con fen t of the owner ; nor 
in time of war, tut in a manner to be prefcribed 
bj law. 

ARTICLE IV. 
The right of rhe people to be fecure in their per- 
forms, houfes, papers, and effe&s, againft unresfon- 
able fearchrs and ftiztties, (hall not be violaled, 
and no warrants fh* 1 iffue, but upon probable 
caufe, fupportcd by oath or affirmation, and par- 



THE UNITED STAGES. 2 20 

ticuiarly defcribing the place to be fearched, and 
the perfocs or xhings to be feized, 

ARTICLE V. 
No perfon (hall be held to anfwer fcr a capita;, 
orotherwife infamous crime, unlefs on a present- 
ment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cgfts 
arifmg in the land cr naval forces, or in the mili- 
tia, when in adiuai fervice, in time of war, or pub- 
lic danger : Nor fliall any perfon fee fi*bje<3 for the 
fame offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or 
limb \ nor fhall be compelled, in any criminal cafe* 
to be witnefs againft himfeif 5 nor be deprived of 
Kfe, liberty cr prcperty, without duz procefs of 
law : nor (hall private property be taken for public 
life, without jult compenfation. 

ARTICLE VI. 
In ail criminal profecutions, the acctifed (hall en- 
joy the right to a fpeedy and public trial, by an 
impartial jury of the fiats and ciftriet wherein thQ 
crime fhall have been committed 5 which diflrict 
fhall have been previously ascertained by law, and 
to be informed of the nature and caufe of the ae- 
cufation ; to be confronted with the witneffts 
againft him ; to have compulfory procefs for ob- 
taining witneffes in his favor ; and to have the a-f- 
fiilgnce of counfel for his defence, 
U 



2JO CONSTITUTION OF 

ARTICLE VII. 
In fuits at common law, where the value in 
controverfy fhall exceed twenty dollar?, the right 
of trial by jury (hall be preferred : and no face 
tried by a jury {hall be otherwifc re-examined in 
Miy court of the United State?, than according to 
the rules of the common law. 

ARTICLE VIII. 
Esceffive bail {hall not be required ; nor excef- 
five fines impofed \ nor cruel and unufual punifh- 
nsents infli&ed. 

ARTICLE IX. 
The enumeration, in the conftitution, of certain 
rights {hall not be conftrued to deny or difparage 
others, retained by the people. 

ARTICLE X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States 
by the conftitution, nor prohibited by it to the 
ftates, are referred to the ftatcs refpectively, or to 
the people. 

ARTICLE XI. 

The judicial power cf the United States (hall 
not be confirued to extend to any fuit in law or 
equity, commenced or profecuted agaiaft one of 
the United States by citizens of another Gate, or 
by citizens cr fubje&s cf any foreign ftate. 



THE UNITED STATES. 2JI 

ARTICLE XII. 

[This article is fuls tit uted " in lieu cf the third para* 
« graph of the first feftion of the fecond article cftke 
" Constitution"] 

The ele&ors (hall meet in their refpetiive Rites, 
and vote by ballot for prefident and vice-prefident, 
one of whom at lead (hall not be an inhabitant of 
the fame ftate with them/elves : they {hall name in 
their ballots the perfon voted for as prefident, and 
in ditlind ballots the perfon voted for as vice pref- 
ident ; and they (hall make diliindl lifts of all per- 
forms voted for as prefident and all perform voted for 
as vice prefident, and of the number of votes for 
each, which lids they (hall fign and certify, and 
tranfmit, fealed, to the feat of the government of 
the United States, directed to the prefident of the 
fenate. The prefident of the fenate (Ball in the 
prefence of the fenate and houfe of reprefentntives, 
open all the certificates, and the votes fhall then be 
counted: the perfon having, the greateft number 
of votes for prefident fhali be the prefident, if fuch 
number be a majority cf the \?ho!s number of 
eledors appointed ; and if no perfon have fuch 
majority, then from the perfons having the greatefi 
number, not exceeding three on the lift of thofe 
voted for as prefident, the houfe of representatives 
feallchoofe immediately, by ballot, the prefident 5 



2^2 CONSTITUTION, &C. 

but in chooGng the prefident, the votes (hall be ta- 
ken by ftates ; the reprefenUtion frorti each (late 
having one vote : a quorum for this purpofe (hall 
ccnfift of a member or members from two thirds 
of the dates, and a majority of all the ftates (hall 
neceiTary to a choice •, and if the houfe of rep- 
fentativ^s rhail net choofe a prefident whenever 
: right of choice fhsil devolve upon them, be- 
rth day of March next following, then 
the vice prefident fha'l a<3; as present, as in the 
cafe of the death or other coniiltutional difcBilify 
of the preGdent. The perfon havi tft 

nber of votes as T /ice prefident {hall be vice pres- 
ident, if fuch numBfcf be a majority of the tffcole 
number of the electors appointed ; and if no per- 
fon hsve a majority, then from the two Eigheft 
rs en the lift, the fenate (hall choofe the 
prefident : a quorum for the purpofe fnall con- 
fift of t^o thirds of the whole number of fenaters, 
and a majority of the whole number (hall be ne- 
ceflary to a choice ; but no perfon coriftitutionally 
ineligible to the office of prefident (hall be eligible 
to that of vice prefident of the United States. 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

In General Congrefs, Philadelphia, July 4, 1 776-. 

WHEN in the ccurfe of human events, it be- 
comes necefiary for one people to diiiblve the po- 
litical bands which have conoe&ed them with 
another, and to affume among the powers of the 
earth, the feparate and equal ftation to which the 
laws of nature and of nature's God entitle thenr, 
a decent refpeci to the opinions of mankind re- 
quires that they fhoufd declare the caufes which 
impel them to the reparation. 

We hold thefe rruths to be felf-evident : that ail 
men are created equal : that they are endowed by 
their Creator with certain unalienable rights : that 
among thefe are life, liberty, and the purfuit of 
happinefs. That to fee u re thefe rights, govern- 
ments are inixiVuted among men, deriving their 
jult powers from the content of the governed ; that 
whenever any form of government becomes de- 
ftructive of thtic ends, it is the right of the people 
to alter or abolifh it, and to in (lit ate new govern- 
ment, hying its foundation on fuch principles, 13 I 
U z 



23+ DECLARATIOH OF 

organizing its powers in fuch form, as to them 
fliall fcero moft likely to effect their fafety and hap- 
pinefs. Prudence indeed will dictate, that govern- 
ments long tftablifhed (houlJ not be changed for 

: and traofient caufes, tad accordingly all ex- 
perience hath (hewn, that mankind are more difpo- 
ferl to fuller rils are (uffVrable, than to i 

themfelves by abolifhing the forms to which they 
arc accuftomed. Bat when a long train cf at 

ufurpations purfuing invariably ths fame ob- 
jeft, evinces a defign to reduce them under abfo- 
lute defpotifm, it is their right, it is :' ii duty, to 
throw off fuch govcrnmentj and to provide new 
guards for their future fecuriiy, Su*h has been 
the patient fufferancc of thefe colonics ; and fuch 
is now the neceflity which conftVains them to alter 
their former fyftems of government. The hiitcry 
of the prefent king ot Great-Britain is a hiftory of 
repeated injuries and having indi- 

rect object the eftabliflimcnt of an abfolute tyran- 
ny over rhefe (tares. To prove this let f^cts be 
fubenitted to a candid world. 

He has refnfed his aflfent to laws the mod whole- 
fome and neeeiiary for the public good. 

He has forbidden his ; Eo z^\i laws 

of immediate and preffiog importance, ualefs fsrf- 



INDEPENDENCE," 2$Z 

fended in their operation till hh affent fhould be 
obtained ; and when fo fufpcnded, lie has utterly 
negle&ed to attend to thtm. 

Re has refufed to pais ether laws for the ac- 
commodation of large diltiids of people 1 , uolefe 
thofe people would reii^qiulh the light of reprei^ 
entation in the legifi<*twrti ; a right iueitisaabk to 
them 9 and formidable to tyrant* only. 

He has called together Initiative I o aces 

unufua!, uncomfortable, and ciaar.c froraa the 4e- 
pofitory of their public records, for the Me pur- 
pofe of fatiguing them into compliance with his 
naeafures. 

He has diflblvsd reprefentarive toufes repeated- 
ly for oppofiag with manly finnnels his invafions 
on the tights of ths people. 

He has refufed for a long tirae^ after (ach diffo- 
lutions, to caufe others to be elected , whereby 
the legiflative powers incapable of annihilation* 
have returned to the people at large* (or their ex- 
erelfe ; the (late rcinainiog in the mean time ex- 
pofcri to all the danger of invafion fiosa without 
and convuifions within. 

He has endeavored to prevent the population of 
thefe ftates i for that piitpofe obftru&tng the laws 
for naturalisation of foreigners ; refilling to pafe 
others to encourage their migration hither, and 



236 DECLARATION OF 

railing the conditions ©f new appropriations of 
lands. 

He has obftru&e4 the adminiftration of jufiice, 
by refufing his a (Tent to laws for eftabiiihing judi- 
ciary powers. 

He has made judges dependent on his will alone* 
for tht tenure of their offices, and the amount and 
payments of their falariea. 

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and 
fent hither fwarms of officers to harrafs our people 
and eat cut their fubfiar.ee. 

He has kept arnon^ us, in times of peace, (land- 
ing aroiies without the confent of our legiGatures. 

He has affefled to render the military independ- 
ent of, and fuperior-to, the civil power. 

He has combined with others to fubjedl us to a 
)Utifdi£H©ri foreign to our confutation, and unac- 
knowledged by out laws % giving his affefit to their 
adls of pretended legislation. 

For quartering large bodies of troops among us : 

For protecting them, fay a meek trial, from pua- 
Hhment for any murders they fhould commit en 
the inhabitants of thefe dates : 

For cutting off our trade with all. parts of- the 
world : 

For ioipofing U:hz on us without our -cenfeat t 



For depriving us ia many cafes of the benefits 
©f trial by jury : 

For tranfporting us beyond feas to be tried for 
pretended offences *,. 

For abolifiiing the free fydcm of Engliflb laws ia 
a neighboring province, eftablifliing therein an ar- 
bitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries^ 
fo as to- render it at once an example and fit inftru- 
ment for introducing the fame abfolute rule into 
thefe colonies : 

For taking away oss^r charters, a bo lifting cur 
molt valuable laws, znd altering fundamentally 
the forms of our governments : 

For fufpending our own legiflatures, znd decla- 
ring thcmfelves inveSed with power to kgiflate 
for us in all cafes whatsoever. 

He has abdicated government here, by declaring 
us out of his prote£lion, and waging war againft us. 

He has plundered our feas, ravaged our ccafts; 
burnt our towns,, and djeftfoyed the lives. of our 
people. 

He is at this time tranfporting large armies of 
foreign mercenaries tocoriiplete the works of death, 
defolation and tyranny, already begun with cir- 
cumftances cf cruelty and perfidy, fcarcely pars!- 
leled in the moft barbarous ages, and totally un- 
worthy the head cf a civilised nation, 



238 DECLARATION OP 

He has conftrained our fellow citizens, taken 
captive on the high Teas, to bear arms againft their 
country, to become the executioners of their friends 
and brethren, or to fall themfelves by their hands. 

He has excited doraeftic infurre£Hcns among 
us, and has endeavored to bring en the inhabitants 
of our frontiers the meicilcfs Indian favages, whofe 
known ruK- of warfare is an undiilinguifhed de- 
ftru&ion of all ages, fexes and conditions. 

In every ftage of thefe oppr nions, we have pe- 
titioned for redrefs in the mod humble terms*, 
our repeated petitions have been anfwered only by 
repeated injury. A prince wlrofe charaQei is thus 
marked by every zct which may define a tyrant, 
is unfit to be the ruler of a free people* 

Nor have we been wanting ia attention to our 
Britifn. brethren. We have earned them from 
time to time of attempts rnsde by their legislature 
to extend an unwarrantable jurifdiftion over us. — 
We have reminded them of the circumftances oi 
cur emigration and fettlement here. We have ap- 
pealed to their native juftice and magnanimity, and 
we have conjured them by the ties of our cemmoa 
kindred, to difavow thefe ufurpatiens, which v*'euid 
inevitably interrupt our connexion and corref- 
pondencc. They too have been deaf to the voice i 



INDEPENDENCE. 2^0 

Or jultice and of confanguinity. We miul there- 
fore acquiefce in the neceffity which denounces our 
feparation and hold theai as we hold the red of 
mankind— eneoibs in war; in peace friends. 

WE, therefore, the reprefentatrres of the United 
States of America, in General Congrefs afiembied, 
appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world, for 
the rectitude of our intentions, DO in the name, 
and by the authority of the good People of thefe 
Colonies, folemnly publifh and declare, That thcfe 
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, 
FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that 
they are abfolved from all allegiance; to the Britifh 
crown, and that all political connexion between 
them and the ftate of Great-Britain is, and ought 
to be totally diflblved ; and that as Free and Inde- 
pendent States, they have full power to levy war, 
conclud* peace, contract alliances, eftablifli com* 
nierce, and to do all other a-cis and things which 
Independent States may -of right do. And for the 
fupport of this declaration, with a firm reliance on 
the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually 
pledge to each other, cur lives, our fortunes and 
our facred honor. 

JOHN HANCOCK, Prefldent. 

Neiu-Hampjtjire—Jovxih Bartlett, Wm. Whip* 
pie, Matthew Tfaoratoa* MaJfachitfeUs-Bay~--§zm- 



DECLARATION-, fc 

uel Aiurrr, John A \ v::::, Roh. F. Pdine, Eibridgc 
Gsrry. . I, William 

Eliery. Cm -Roger SI 3am]. B 

ingtcn, Wm. , Oliver WokoU. 

Ttrk — Wiliiam Floyd, Philip Livingiton, Fiancis 
Lewis, Lc v. i: . New-Jerfey — Rich. Stock- 

ten, J. Witherfpoon, Fr. Ho , J. H2t:. 

Clark. Pet.' i — Robe 

Rufh, Be y John I , George 

Clymer, Jan cc Smtthj George T nes Wi!- 

fon, George Rofs. Dj'jzvare — Crjfar 
George Read. Ai J — 3am. Chafe, Win. Pa- 

ca, The. Sroae, Charles Carroll, efCan 

i —Geo. Vt ythe, Rich. H. Lee, 1 rfon, 

^rnin Harrion, Thomas NcH 
cis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton. Nor: 
Tia — WiiKam Keeper, Jofeph Hewes, John Penn. 
South Caralina — Edw. Rutkdge,Th. Iky ward, jun. 
Th. Lynch, jao. Ar. Middleton. Gargla— Button 
Gwinnett, Lymac Hall, George Waken. 



PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S 

Farewell Address. 

To the PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES, 

Friends and Felloiu-CitizenSy 

THE period for a new election of a citizen, to 
adminifter the Executive Government of the Uni- 
ted States, being not far diftant, and the time ac~ 
tuaily arrived when your thoughts mult be employ- 
ed in defignating the perfon who is to be clothed 
with that important truft, it appears to me proper, 
efpecially 33 it may conduce to a more diftin£i ex- 
preflion of the public voice, that I fhould now ap- 
prife you of the refolution I have formed, to de- 
cline being considered among the number of thofc 
out of whom a choice is to be made. 

I beg you, at the fame time, to do me the jufticc 
to be allured, that this refoiution has not been ta- 
ken, without a drift regard to all the confiderations 
appertaining to the relation, which binds a dutiful 
citizen to his country •, a*id that, in withdrawing 
the tender of fervice which filence in my fituation 
might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of 
zeal for your future intereft; no deficiency of 
grateful refpeel for your paft kindnefs - y but am 
Supported by a full conviclion that the ftep fa com- 
patible with both. 

W 



242 PRESIDENT WASHINGTON*! 

The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in, 
the office to which your fuffrages have twice called 
me, have been a uniform facrifice of inclination to 
the opinion of duty, and to a deference for what 
appeared to be your deSre. I conftantly hoped 
that it would have been much earlier in my power, 
confidently with motives, which I was not at lib- 
erty to difregard, to return to that retirement, from 
which I had been reluctantly drawn. The ftrength 
of my inclination to do this, previous to the laft 
election, had even led to the preparation of an ad- 
drefs to declare it to you-, but mature reflection 
on the then perplexed and critical pofture of our 
affairs with foreign nations, and the unanimous ad- 
vice of perfons entitled to my confidence, impelled 
me to abandon the idea. 

I rejoice that the flate of your concerns, exter- 
nal as well as internal, no longer renders the pur- 
fuic of inclination incompatible with the fentiment 
of duty or propriety: and am perfuaded, whatever 
partiality may be retained for my fervice, that in 
the prefent circumftsnees of cur country, you will 
not disapprove cf my determination to retire. 

Th: impreflions with which I firft undertook 
i)\c arduous cruft, were explained on the proper cc- 
caOpa. In the difcharge of this truft, i wiii only 
fav, that I have with good intentions contributed 
towards the organization and aiminiitration of the 
goYerntneptj the bed exertions of which a very fa!- 
iiblc judgment was capable. Not unconLcioLS in 
the curfet of the inferiority of my qualifications, 
experience in my ov;n ey--s, perhaps itiii more in 
ibe fyes of pthers, has fl. lengthened the motives to 



?AREW£L£ ADDRESSv 243 

diffidence of myfelf ; and every day theincreafing 
weight of years admonifhes more and more, that 
the (hade of retirement is as neceflary to me as it 
will be welcome. Satisfied that if any circumftan- 
ces have given peculiar value to my fervices, they 
were temporary, I haye the confolation to believe 
that while choice and prudence invite me to quit 
the political fcene, patriotifm docs not forbid it. 

In looking forward to the moment, which is in* 
tended to terminate the career of my public life, 
my feelings do not permit me to fufpend the deep 
acknowledgment of that debt cf gratitude which I 
owe to my beloved country, for the many honors 
h has conferred upon me ; dill more for the fted- 
faft confidence with which it has fupporred me - 9 
and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of 
manifefting my inviolable attachment, by fervices 
faithful and perfevering, though in ufefuinefs un- 
equal to my zeah If benefits have refulted to our 
country from thefe fervices, let it always be re- 
membered to our praife, and as an inftruftive ex- 
ample in cur annals, that under circum (lances in 
which the paffions, agitated in every direvSion, were 
liable to mifiead—amkift appearances fomeurries 
dubious— viciditudes of fortune often difcouraging 
—in (ituations in whicn not unfrequently want of 
fuccefs has countenanced a fpirit of criticifm — the 
conftancy of your fupport was the effential prop of 
the efforts and a guarantee of tht plans by which 
they were effe&ed. Profoundly penetrated with 
this idea, I (hall carry it with me to my grave, as a 
ftrong incitement to unceafing vows that Heavea 
may continue to you the chokeft tokens of its be- 
neficence — that your union and brotherly afftdtion 



244 PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S 

rosy be perpetual — that the free conftitution, which 
is tht work of your hands may be facreflly main- 
rained — that its administration in every department 
may be ftamped with wifdom and virtue — that ia 
iine, the happinefs of the people of thefe itates, un- 
der the sufpices of liberty, may be made complete, 
by fo careful a prefervation, and fo prudent a ufe 
of this bltiTmg as will acquire to them the glory of 
recommending it to the applaufe, the affe&ion and 
adoption of every nation which ia yet a flranger to it. 

Here, perhaps, I ought to flop. But a folkituds 
for your welfare, which cannot cad but with r»y 
iife, and the apprehenfion cf danger natural to that 
foiicitude, urge rae, on an occafion like the prefent, 
to offer to your Solemn contemplation, and to re- 
commend to your frequent review, fome fentiments 
which are the refult of much reflexion, of no in- 
coiiUderable observation, and which appear to ms 
ail-important to the permanency of your felicity as 
a people. Thefe will be offered to you with the 
more freedom, as ypu C3n only feel in them the 
diilnterefted warnings of a parting friend, who can 
pofilbly have no perfonal motive to bias his coun« 
frls. Nor can I forget as an encouragement to ir, 
your indulgent reception of my fentiments on a for- 
mer and not difiimilar occafion. 

Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every 
ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine 
is nsceffary to fortify or confirm the attachment. 

The unity of government which conflitutes you 
one people, is alio dear to you. It is juftly fo ; for 
it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real lade* 



FAREWELL ADDRESS. 24^ 

pendeace, the fupport of your tranquility at home, 
your peace abroad ; of your fafety ; of your proi- 
perity j of that very liberty which you io highly 
prize. But as it is eafy to (orefce that from differ- 
ent caufes and from different quarters, much pains 
will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken 
in your minds the conviction of this truth ; as this 
is the point in your political foxtrefs againft which 
the batteries of internal and external enemies will 
be molt constantly and actively (though often cov- 
ertly and infidioufly) directed,' it is of infinite mo- 
ment that you ihould properly tfticnate the im- 
iiienfe value of your national union, to your col- 
lective and individual happiaefs : that you fliould 
cheriih a cordial, habitual and iautio-Veable attach* 
ment to it$ acenftoming yourfelves to think aiui 
(peak of it as of the palladium of your political 
lafety and profperity ; -watching for its preferva- 
tion with jealous anxiety ; difcountenancing what- 
ever pvay iuggeit even a fufpicion that it can in any 
event be abandoned ; and indignantly frowning up- 
on the firft dawning of every attempt to alienate 
any portion of our country from the reft, or to en- 
feeble the fscred ties which now Jink together the 
various parts. 

For this you ha*e every inducement of fympathy 
and intereft. Citizens by birth or choice, of a 
common country, that country has a right to con- 
centrate your affections. The name of American, 
'which belongs to you, in your- national 'capacity*. 
muil always exalt the juil pride of patriotifm mors 
than any appellation derived from local cifcrimi- 
nations. With flight" (hades of difference, you* 
have the fame religion, manners, habits and pe!i v ->- 
W 2 



2/1.6 PRESIDENT V, ASHIXGTON'S 

ical principles. You have in a common caufe 
Fought and triumphed together \ the independence 
and liberty you poffris are the work of joint coun- 
r, and joint efforts, of common dangers, fuffer- 
iiigs afrd fucceffes. 

But tnefe confiderations, however powerfully 

they addrefs themfelves to your fenfibility, are 

outweighed by thofe which apply mere im- 

Hately to your intereft. Here every portion of 

country finds the mofl commanding motives 

carefully guarding and preferving the union of 

\ % ic v, hole. 

T orti in an unrePirained intercourfe with 
the South, protected by the equal laws of a common 
government, finds in the productions of the latter,, 
1 refcurces of maritime and corn- 
rial enterpnfe, and precious materials of man- 
ufa&uring induftry. The South in the fame inter- 
courfe benefitting by the agency of the North, fees 
is agriculture grow and its commerce expand. — 

irning partly into its own channels the feamen 
of the North, it findfevks particular navigation in- 

: crated; and while it contributes in different 
ways, to nouiifh ?.nd increafe mt general mafs of 
the natioria! navigation, it looks forward to the pro- 
tection of a maritime ftrerigth to which itfelf is 
tineqnally adapted. The East, in a like intercourfe 
with the West, already finds^and in the progreiTive 
improvement of interior communications, by land 
and water, will more and more find a valuable 
vent fdr the commodities which it brings from 
abroad, or manufactures at home. The West de- 
iu ? e: from the East fupplics- recuifite to its growth 



FAREWELL ADDRESS* 247 

and comfort ; and what is perhaps of (till greater 
conkquence, it mull of neceffity owe the fecurs 
enjoyment of indifpeafabte outlets for its own pro- 
du&ioiis to the weight, influence, and the future 
maritime ftrengih of the Atlantic (ide of theUnion,.. 
directed by an indiffolnble community of iruercft 
as one nation. Any other tenure by which the 
West can hold this effential advantage, whether 
derived from its own feparate ftrength, or from an 
spoliate and unnatural conneclion with any foreign 
power, mull be intiinfically precarious. 

While then- every part of our country thus feels 
sn immediate and particular intereft in union, all 
the parts combined cannot fail to find in the united 
nvafs cf means and efforts greater itrength ? greater 
refource, proportionally greater fecuvity from ex- 
ternal danger, a lefs frequent interruption of their 
peace by foreign nations ; and what is of moil in- 
eftimable value ! they mufi derive fjom union an 
extmpuon from thofe broils and wars -between 
themfelves, which fo frequently afaict neighboring 
countries nor tied together by the fame government; 
which their own rivaifliips alone would be fufficient 
to produce, but which oppofite foreign alliances, at- 
tachments and intrigues would fiimulate and embit- 
ter. Kence "likewife they will avoid the neceffity of 
thofe overgrown military eftablifhrnents which un- 
der any form of government are inaufpicious to lib- 
erty, tnd which are to be regarded as particularly 
hoftile to Republican liberty. In this fenie it is that 
your union ought to be conGdered ss a main prop 
of your liberty^ tnd that the love cf the one ougnt 
to endear 10 you the Drefervauon cf the other> 



24* PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S 

Thefe confiderations Speak a perfuafive language 
to cverj reflecting and virtuous mind, and exhioit 
the continuance of the Union as a primary object 
of patriotic dtfire. Is there a doubt whether a 
common government can embrace fo large a fphere ? 
Let experience folve it. T© liften to mere fpecu- 
lation in fuch a cafe, were criminal. We are au- 
thorised to hope that a proper organization of the 
whole, with the auxiliary agency of .governments 
for the refpecrive fubdivifions, will afford a happy 
iffue to the experiment* 'lis well worth a iair 
and full experiment. With fuch powerful and 
obvious motives to union, affecting all parts of cur 
country, while experience fhall not have demon- 
strated its impracticability, there will always be 
reafon to diitruft the patrictifm of thofe who in 
any quarter may endeavor to weaken its bands. 

In contemplating the caufes which may difturb 
our union, it occurs as matter of ferious concern, 
that any ground fhould have been furnifhed for 
characterising parties by geographical discrimina- 
tions — Northern and Southern — Atlantic and West- 
ern ; whence defigning men may endeavor to ex- 
cite a belief that there is a real difference of local 
jntertfts and views. One of thefe expedients of 
party to acquire influence within particular dif- 
tricxs, is to mifrcprefent the opinions and aims of 
other diftricts, You cannot fine Id yourfelves too 
much again ft the jeak>uftes and heart- burning*, 
which Spring from thole mifreprefentatibns ; they 
tend to render alien to each ether thofe, who ou^ht 
to ^e bound together by fraternal srTi clien. The 
inhabitants of our wtftern country have lately had 
a ufeful lefion oa this head : they have Seen in the 



FAREWELL ADDRESS. 24^ 

negotiation by the executive, and in the unanimous 
ratification by the fenate, of the treaty with Spain, 
and in the univerfal fatisfaftion at that event 
throughout the United States, a decifive proof 
how unfounded were ths fufpicions propagated 
among them, of a policy in the general government 
and in the Atlantic States* unfriendly to their in- 
terefts in regard to the Mifiiffippi ; they have been 
witneffes to the formation of two treaties, that with 
Great-Britain, and that with Spain, which fecure 
to them every thing they could defire, in refpeft to 
our foreign relations, towards confirming their 
profperity. Will it not be their wifdorn t© rely, 
for the prefervation of thefe advantages on the 
Union by which they were procured ? Will they 
not henceforth be deaf to ihofe advifers, if fuch 
there are, who would fever them from their breth^ 
ren, and connect them with aiiens ? 

To the efficacy and permanency of your union, 
a government for the whole is in d-ifpen fable. No 
alliances, however ftricfc, between the parts can be 
an adequate fubftitute •, they mud inevitably ex- 
perience the infra£lions and interruptions which 
all alliances in all tioies have experienced. Sen- 
■ fible of this momentous truth, you have improved 
upon your fir ft cSkj by the adoption of a confuta- 
tion of government, better calculated than your 
former for zn intimate UDion, and for the effica- 
cious management of your common concerns.— 
This government, the offspring of our own choice, 
uninfluenced ?.nd unawed, adopted upon full in- 
veftigattori and mature deliberation, completed 
free in irs principles, in the distribution of its pow- 
aniting fecivrity with, energy* and coataiiiin.g 



2^0 PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S 

within itfclf a proviilon for its amendment, has a 
juft claim to your confidence and your fupport.— 
Refpeft for its authority, compliance with its laws, 
acquiefcence in its meafures 3 are duties enjoined by 
the fundamental maxims of true liberty. The bs- 
fit of our political fyftcm is, the right of the peo* 
pie to make and to alter their conftitution of gov* 
ernment. But, the conftitution which at any time 
exifis, till changed by an explicit and authentic a£l 
of the whole people, is facredly obligatory upon 
all. The very idea ef the power and the right of 
the people to eftablifli government, prefuppofes the 
duty of every individual to obey the eftabliftied gov- 
ernment.. 

AH obftru£tion9 to the execution of the laws, 
all combinations and aflbciations, under whatever 
plaufible character, with the real defign to direft, 
control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation 
and a£tion of the conftituted authorities, are de- 
ftrudive of this fundamental principle, and of fa- 
tal tendency. They fcive to organize fa&icn ; to 
give it an artificial and extraordinary force ; to put 
in the place of the delegated wiil of the nation, 
She will of a party, often a final!, but artful and 
enterpiifing minority of the community ; and, ac- 
cording to the alternate triumphs of different par- 
ties, to make the public adminiftration the mirror 
of the iJi-concerted and incongruous projects of 
faction, rather than the organ ef coniiftent and 
wholefome plans, digefted by common council, and 
modified by mutual intertits. 

However combinations or alTociatiors of the 
^bove defcriptioc may now and thee anfwer pojm» 






FAREWELL ABDHESS. 25 I 

!ar ends, they are likely in the cburfe of time and 
things to become potent engines, by which -cunning* 
ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled 
to fubvert the power of the people, and to ufurp 
for themfelves the reins of government j deftroy- 
ing afterwards the very engines which have lifted 
them to unjuft dominion. 

Towards the prefervation of our government,, 
and the permanency of your prefent happy ftate, it 
is requifite, not only that you fieadily difcounte- 
nance irregular oppefitions to its acknowledged 
authority, but alfo, that you refill with care the 
fptrit of innovation upon its principles, however 
fpecious the pretexts. One method of afTault may 
be to effect in the forms of the con&itution, alter- 
ations which will impair the energy of the fyftem, 
and thus to undermine what cannot be dire&ly 
overthrown. In all the changes to which you may 
be invited, remember that time and habit are at 
lead as neceffary t©< fix the true chara&er of gov- 
-eminent as of other human inftitutions 1 that ex- 
perience is the fureft ftandard by which to reft the 
real tendency of the exifting conJtitution of a coun- 
try, that facility in changes upon the credit of mere 
hypothecs and opinion, expofes to perpetual change, 
from the endlefs variety of hypotbefis and opinion j 
and remember, efpecialiy, tnat for ihQ efficient 
management of your common intercfts, in a coun- 
try (0 extenfive as our*?, a government of as much 
vigor $s is confident with the perfe€t fecurity of 
liberty is indifpenfa&le. Liberty itfclf will find in 
fuch a government with powers properly diitribu- 
t?d and adjufted, its fureft guardian. It is, indeed-, 
■little -elfe than a name where the government is too 



>y 



1t$2 PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S 

feeble to withftand the enterprizes of fa£Uon, to 
confine each member of the fociery within the 
limits prefcribed by the laws, and to maintain all 
in the fecure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights 
of perfon and property. 

I have already intimated to you the danger of 
parties in the State, with peculiar reference to the 
founding of them on geographical difcriminations. 
Let roe now take a more comprehenfive view, and 
warn you, in the mod folemn manner, againft the 
baneful efledis of the fpirit of party, generally* 

This fpirit, unfortunately, is infeparable from 
our nature, having its r<cot in the ftrongeft paffions 
of the human mind. It exifts under different 
(hapes in all governments, rr.ore or lef9 ftifled, con- 
troied, or repreffed ; but in thofe of the popular 
form it is feen in its greateft ranknefs, and is truly 
their worft enemy. 

The alternate domination of one fa&ion over 
another, fharpentd by the fpirit of revenge natural 
to party diffenfion, which in different ages and 
countries has perpetrated the me ft horrid enormi- 
ties, is itfelf a frightful defpotilm : but this leads 
at length to % more formal and permanent defpot- 
ifm. The diforders and mifenes which refult, 
gradually incline the minds of men to feek fecurity 
and repofe in the abfolute power of an individual* 
aod fooner or later .he chief of feme prevailing 
faction^ more able, or more fortunate than his 
competitors, turns this difpofition to the purpofes 
ef his own elevation* oa the ruins of public lib- 
erty. 



FAREWELL ADDRESS. 253 

"Without looking forward to an extremity of 
this kind, (which, ncvcrthelefs, ought not to be 
entirely out of fight) the common and continual 
mifchiefs of the fpirit of party, are fufficknt to 
make it the intcreit and duty of a wife people to 
difcourage and refttain it. 

It fences always to diftraQ: the public councils, 
£nd enfeeble the public administration. It agitates 
tire community with ill-founded jealouftes and falfe 
alarms — kindles the animofity of o^e party againfl 
another, foments cccafionally riot and infurreflion. 
It opens the door to foreign influence and corrup- 
tion, which find a facilitated accefs to the govern- 
ment itfelf through the channels of party pafficn. 
Thus the policy and the will of one country arc 
fubjefted to the policy and will of another. 

There is an opinion that parties in free coun« 
tries are ufeful checks upon the adminiflration of 
the government, and ferve to keep alive the fpirit 
of liberty. This within certain limits is probably 
true, and in governments of a monarchies! cafi, 
patriotifm may look with indulgence, if not with 
favor, upon the fpirit of party. But in thofe of 
the popular character, in governments purely elect- 
ive, it is a fpirit not to be encouraged*- From 

their natural tendency it is certain, there will al- 
ways be enough of that fpirit for every falutary pur« 
pofe. And there being conftant danger of excefs, 
the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, 
to mitigate and afluage it. A fire not to be quench- 
ed, it demands uniform vigilance to prevent its 
burning into aflame, left inftead cf warming it 
(houid can fume. 

X 



254 PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S 

It is important likewife that the habits of think- 
ing in a free country fhould infpire caution, in 
thofe intruded with its adminiftration, to confine 
themfelves within their rcfpedtive conflitutional 
fpheres, avoiding in the exercife of the powers of 
one department to encroach upon another. The 
fpirit of encroachment tends to confolidate the 
p3\vers of all departments in one, and thus to cre- 
ate, whatever the form of government, a real def- 
potifm. A juft eftimatc of that love of power, and 
proacnefs to abufe it, which predominates in the 
human heart, is lufficient to fatisfy us of the truth 
of this pofition. The neceflity of reciprocal checks 
in the exercife of the political power ; by dividing 
and diitributing it in different depositaries, and 
conftituting each the guardian of the public weal 
againft invafions by the others, has been evinced 
by experiments ancient and modern ; fome of them 
in our country, and under our own eyes. To pre- 
ferve them rauft be as neceffaty as to inftitute them. 
If, in the opinion ot the people, the diftribution or 
modification of the conftitutional powers be in any 
particular wrong, let it becorre&ed by an amend- 
ment in the way which the conftitution defignates— 
But let there be no change by ufurpacion ; for tho 9 
this, in one inftance, may be the inftrument of 
good, it is the cuftomary weapon by which free 
governments are deftroyed. The precedent mufl 
always greatly overbalance in permanent evil an^ 
partial or tranfient benefit which the ufe can at any 
time yield. 

Of all the difpoEuons and habits which le3d to 
political profperitr. Religion and Morality are in- 



FAREWELL ADDRESS;, *£g; 

difpenfable fupports. In vain would that man 
claim the tribute of patriotifm, who would labor to 
fubvert thefe great pillars of human happinefs,thefe 
firmed props of the duties of men and citizens. The 
mere politician equally with the pious man, ought 
to refpe£t and cherilh them — a volume could not 
trace all their connexions with private and public 
felicity. Let it fimply be aiked, where is the fecu- 
rity for property, for reputation, for life, if the 
fenfe of religious obligation defert the oaths which 
are the inftruments of inveftigation in Courts of 
Juftice ? and let u€ with caution indulge the (up- 
pofition, that morality can be maintained without 
religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influ- 
ence of* refined education on minds of peculiar 
ftruflure ; ,reafon and experience both forbid us to 
e&pe£t that national morality can prevail in excla* 
Son of. religious principle. 

It is fuiftantially true that virtue cr morality is 
a neceffary fpring of popular government. The 
rule indeed extends with more or lefs force to eve- 
ry fpecies of free government. Who that is a fin- 
cere friend to it can look with indifference upon 
attempts to {hake the foundation of the fabric. 

Promote, then, as an object of primary import- 
ance, inftitutions for the general diffuiion of knowl- 
edge. In proportion as the ftru&ure of a govern- 
ment gives force to public opinion, it is eileUial 
that public opinion fhould be enlightened. 

As a very important fource of firength and fecu- 
rity, cherifh public credit. One method of prc- 
ferving it is to ufe it as fparingly as poflible j avoid- 



256 PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S 

ing occafions of expenfe by cultivating peace, but 
remembering alfo that timely difburfements to pre- 
pare for danger, frequently prevent much greater 
flaurfementa to repel it ; avoiding likewile the 
accumulation of debt, not only by fhunning occa- 
fions of expenle, but by vigorous exertions in time 
of p?ace to difcharge the debts which unavoidable 
wars .nay have oceafioned, not ungeneroufly throw- 
ing upon posterity the burthen which we ourfelves 
ought to bear. The execution of thefe maxims 
belongs to your Reprefentatives, but it is neceffary 
that public opinion (hould co-operate. To facili^ 
tate to theai the performance of their duty, it is 
eferrtial that you fhould practically bear in mind, 
that towards the payment of debts there mud b^ 
revenue ; that to- have revenue there nvufl. be tax- 
es ; that no taxes caa be devifed which are net 
more or lefs inconvenient and unpleafant ; that the 
intrinfic embarraffment infeparabie irom the felec- 
tioo of the proper objects (which is always a choice 
«f difficulties) ought to be a decifive motive for a 
candid eonftru&ion of the condudl of the govern- 
roent in making it, and for a fpirit of acquiefcence 
in the meafures for obtaining revenue, which the 
public exigencies may n any time dictate. 

Obferve good faith aad juftice towards all na- 
tions, cultivate peace and harmony with all; reli- 
gion and morality enjoin this conduft : and can Jt 
be that good policy does not equally enjoin it ? It 
will be -worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no 
distant period, a great nation, ro give to mankind 
the magnammoas and too novel example of a 
people always guided by an exalted jultice and be- 
nevolence. Who can doubt that in the scurfs of 



FAREWELL ADDRESS* 201 

Taking care always to keep ouifslvss, by fuita- 
ble eftabiiiiimetits, on a refpectable defenfivc pof- 
ture, we may lately trait to temporary alliances for 
-extraordinary emergencies. 

Harmony, liberal intercourfe with all nations, 

are recommended by policy, humanity and intereit. 
But even our commercial policy fhouid hold an 
equal and impartial hand \ neither lending no? 
granting excluGve favors or preferences ;. x cenfttli> 
ing the natural courfe of things: diiTufing aad di- 
verfifying by gentle means the ftreams of com- 
merce, bat forcing nothing \ eitabiilhing, with 
powers fo difpofed, in order to give our trade a 
liable courfe, to define the rights of our merchants, 
and to enable the government to fupport them, 
conventional rules of intercourfe^ the belt that 
prefent circumftances and mutual opinion will per- 
mit, but temporary and liable to be from time to 
time abandoned or varied, as experience and cir- 
cumftances fhall di£tate ; coniiantly keeping ia 
view, that it is folly in one nation to look for dif- 
interefled favors from another 5 that it muft pay 
with a portion of its independence for whatever 
it may accept under thai charadier £ that by fuch 
acceptance, it' may place itfelf in the condition of 
having given equivalents for nominal favors, an<i 
yet ©f being reproached with ingratitude for not 
giving more. There can be no greater error than 
to expett, or calculate, upon real favors from na- 
tion to nation. It is an illufion which experience 
mult cure, whkh a juit piide ought to difcard. 

In offering to you, my countrymen, thefe couo- 
kh of an old aad <Ufc£Uo&a-te iriesd, I dare adt 



262 PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S 

hope they will make the ftrong and lafting impref- 
fion I could wifh, that they will control the ufual 
current of the paffions, or prevent oar nation from 
fanning the coarfe which hag hitherto marhed the 
deftiny of natisns : — But if I may even flatter my- 
felf, that they may be productive of fome partial 
benefit, fome occafjonal good — that they may now 
and then recur to moderate the fury of pany ipirit, 
to warn again (l the mifchiefs of foreign intrigue, to 
guard againft the impoftures of pretended patriot- 
ism, this hope will be a full recompenfe for the fo* 
licitudefor your welfare, by which they have beea 
dictated. 

How far in the difcharge of my official duties, I 
have been guided by the principles which have 
been delineated, the public records and other evi- 
dences of my conduct mull: wifnefs to you and to 
the world. To myfelf, the asTurance of my own 
eonfeience is, that I have at kali believed myfelf to 
be guided by them. 

In relation to the firft fabfiftiag war in Europe, 

my proclamation of the 22d of April, 1793, * s ^ e 
index to my plan. San&ioned by your approving 
voice, and by that of yoor Representatives in both 
Houfes of Corgrefs, the fpirit of that meafure has 
continually governed me*, uninii^enced by any 
attempts to detsr or divest me from ir. 

After deliberate examination with the aid of the 
feeft lights I could obtain, 1 was well fatisfied that 
our country, under all the circumftanees of the 
cafe, had a right to take, and was bound in duty 
and inurcft to take, a neutral ptftiion. Having ta- 



FARWELL ADDRESS 2&J 

ken it, I determined, as far as fliould depend iipon 
me, to maintain it with moderation, perfeverance 
and firmnefs. 

The confiderations which refpeiSl the right to 
hold this condu£> it is not neceffary on this occa- 
Hon to detail. I will only obferve 5 that according 
to my underftanding of the matter, that right, fo 
far from being denied by any of the belligerent 
powers, has been virtually admitted by all. 

The duty of holding a neutral condu£fc may be 
inferred, without any thing more, from theobliga- 
tion which juftice and humanity impofe on every 
nation in cafes in which it is free to aft, to main- 
tain inviolate the relations of peace and amity to- 
wards other nations. 

The inducements of interefl for obferving that 
conduft will be beft referred to your reflections 
and experience. With me, a predominant motive 
has bten to endeavor to gain time to our country 
to fettle and mature its yet recent inftitutions, and 
to progrefs without interruption, to that degree of 
ftrength and confiftency, which is neceffary to gke 
it, humanly (peaking, the command of its own 
fortunes. 

Though in reviewing the incidents of my admin- 
idration, I am unconfeiens of intentional error ; -I 
am aeverthelefs too fenfible of my defects not to 
think it probable that I may have committed many 
errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently be- 
fecch the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils 
to which they may tend, I fhall alio carry with 



264 WASHINGTON'S ADDRESS. 

me the hope that my country will never ceafe to 
view them with indulgence ; and that after forty- 
five years of my life dedicated to its fervice, with 
an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities 
will be configned to oblivion, as myfelf mud fooa 
be to the manfions of reft. 

Relvinz on itskindnefs in this as in other things $ 
and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which 
is fo natural to a man who views in it the native 
foil of hi ftlf and progenitors for feveral genera- 
tions ; I anticipate with pleafing expe&ation that 
retreat, in which I promife myfelf to realize, with- 
out alloy, the fweet enjoyment of partaking in the 
mid ft of my tllow«citizens, the benign influence 
of ^ood laws i nder a free government— the ever 
favorite objefl of my heart, and the happy reward? 
as 1 truft, of 01 r mutual cares, labori and daggers. 

Go: WASHINGTON, 

United States } \*]th September , 1796. 



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